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SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT 



FINAL REPORT 




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NEW JERSEY. 



Appointed and acting under Acts of 
April 20th, 1885, April 27th, 1886, and March 16th, 1887. 



James N. Duffy, 1 

Gottfried Krueger, V Commissioners. 

William H. Corbin, J 



TRENTON, N. J.: 

Pkinted by Thk John L. Murphy Publishing Company. 

1891. 



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Monument to First New Jersey Brigade, 
(north slope of little round top.) 



FINAL REPORT 



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NEV/ JERSEY. 



, Appointed and acting under Acts of 
April 20th, 1885, April 27th, 1886, and March 16th, 1887. 



James N. Duffy, ^ 

Gottfried Krueger, V Commissioners. 

William H. Corbin, I 









TRENTON, N. J.: 

Printed by The John L. Murphy Publishing Company. 

1891. 



■^15 
.53 



LETTER TRANSMITTING REPORT. 



To His Excellency Leon Ahhett, Governor of New Jersey : 

Sir — The undersigned Commissioners appointed pursuant to Chap- 
ter CXCIX. of the laws of 1886, to erect " suitable monuments to 
mark the position of the New Jersey regiments upon the battle-field 
of Gettysburg/' have the honor to submit herewith their final report ; 
the interesting duty with which they were charged having, as they 
believe, been entirely fulfilled. The Commissioners have heretofore 
presented two brief reports of the progress of the work, one in Decem- 
ber, 1886, and the other in December, 1887. They deem it proper, 
however, to embrace in the present report a statement covering the 
entire period of their operations, and in so doing will necessarily 
repeat, to some extent, their former reports. 

The Commissioners desire, in transmitting their report, to express 
their sincere and grateful appreciation of the interest manifested by 
Your Excellency and by His Excellency Governor Green, in their 
work. 

With great respect, we are, etc., 

JAMES N. DUFFY, 
GOTTFRIED KRUEGER, 
WILLIAM H. CORBIN, 

Commissioners. 
Dated October 1st, 1891. 



COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 



THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought on the first, second and third 
days of July, 1863, by General Meade, commanding the First, Second, 
Third, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps, and the 
Cavalry Corps and Reserve Artillery Corps of the Army of the 
Potomac, on the Federal side, and General Lee, commanding the Army 
of Northern Virginia, on the Confederate side. 

The battle was the culmination of General Lee's famous Campaign 
of Invasion. It resulted in the signal defeat of his army with great 
loss, and caused his immediate withdrawal from Pennsylvania and 
Upper Maryland, and ended his campaign in failure and disaster. 

Even at the time of its occurrence the battle was deemed a most 
important one, but viewed from the standpoint of the present time 
it is regarded as the turning point of the Civil War. The Rebellion, 
which up to this period had, in the main, been victorious and aggres- 
sive, became thereafter more and more a sullen, stubborn defense, con- 
tinually weakening, and finally breaking down and yielding its territory 
and its forces to the National arms. 

At this battle about 85,000 men were present on the Federal side, 
of whom about 70,000 were engaged, with 300 guns. On the Con- 
federate side about 70,000 men with 250 guns were present, sub- 
stantially all of whom were engaged in the fight. 

The scene of the conflict was the village of Gettysburg, Adams 
county, Pennsylvania, and the plain on which it stands, stretching to 
the north and south, and the ridge to the east of this plain, known as 
Cemetery ridge, and the ridge to the west thereof, called Seminary 
ridge, the main lines of battle being along the crests of these ridges, 
the Federals on the east and the Confederates on the west. 

The battle extended over an area of about twenty-five square miles. 
The losses were severe on both sides, and nearly equal, being about 



6 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

23,000 in either army. Of these not less than 3,500 in each army- 
were killed or died of wounds. 

From the very first this battle excited exceptional and extraordinary 
interest. The great numbers engaged, the heroism so signally dis- 
played, the stubbornness of the fight, its significance as marking the 
culmination of the Confederate invasion of the North, the fact that it 
was fought on Northern soil at a point apart from the " theater of 
war," its decisiveness as the turning point of the Rebellion, the inter- 
esting character of the struggle to the military critic, and the beauty 
of the field to the ordinary observer — all these considerations tended 
to make it famous. 

After the battle was ended the Federals came into possession of the 
entire field. It was strewed with thousands of the dead, as well as 
with hundreds of carcasses of horses bloated under the July sun. 
Unless these were speedily disposed of the country would be unin- 
habitable — a pestilence would ensue. Accordingly, the dead were 
buried, friend and foe, on the field where they fell — in the fertile 
wheat-fields, in gardens, by the roadside, in the woods on Gulp's hill, 
on the rocky slopes of Round Top, where there was scarcely earth 
enough to cover them from sight. Many were not identified, but 
slight marks were put up to indicate how many each trench contained 
and to which side they belonged. The army hastened away in pursuit 
of the enemy, leaving the 7,000 shallow graves to show where they 
had been. 

ACTION OF THE LOYAL GOVERNORS. 

Soon after the battle, and in the month of July, 1863, steps were 
taken by Governor Curtin and citizens of Pennsylvania to collect the 
bodies and give them a proper burial. 

The co-operation of the Governors of the eighteen Northern States 
having troops at Gettysburg was invited and secured. A plot of 
seventeen acres of ground on Cemetery hill, at the center of the 
Union line of battle, was purchased. 

The State of New Jersey was prompt to give aid to the project. 
Governor Parker appointed Levi Scoby his agent to meet the agents 
of the other Governors to formulate a plan for the establishment of a 
National Cemetery, and the proper commemoration of the services of 
the fallen soldiers. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 7 



CONVENTION OF THE GOVERNORS' AGENTS, 1863. 

A convention of the agents of the Governors was held at Harris- 
burg, Pa., on December 17th, 1863. Agents were present from Maine, 
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. Letters were received 
from the Governors of New York, Michigan, Rhode Island, Dela- 
ware and Minnesota, signifying their approval of the purpose of the 
convention, and expressing a disposition to concur in any action that 
might be taken. The convention adopted a scheme which was sub- 
mitted to the Governors of the several States. It provided that the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should hold the title to the National 
Cemetery, in perpetuity, in trust for the States having soldiers buried 
therein ; that the Legislature of Pennsylvania should be requested to 
create a corporation to have exclusive control of the cemetery, to be 
managed by a Beard of Trustees, one to be appointed by the Governor 
of each of the States having soldiers buried in the cemetery. The 
convention estimated that $63,500 would be required to finish the 
cemetery and build a monument, and asked the several States to con- 
tribute to the fund required, in proportion to their representation in 
Congress, and to contribute annually thereafter, in like proportion, 
for the care of the cemetery. A committee of five, with Mr. Scoby, 
of New Jersey, as chairman, was appointed to procure designs for a 
monument. The plans of Mr. William Saunders for laying out the 
cemetery, were adopted. It was reported that, up to the time of the 
convention, 2,271 bodies had been buried in the cemetery, of which 
35 were the bodies of New Jersey soldiers. (Leg. Doc. 1864, pp. 1-4.) 

INCORPORATION OF THE GETTYSBURG SOLDIERS' NATIONAL 
CEMETERY, 1864. 

The State of Pennsylvania, by act of March 25th, 1864 (Pamph. 
Laws, p. 102), incorporated the "Soldiers' National Cemetery," naming 
one incorporator from each of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, 
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New 
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, " being one 
Commissioner from each State having soldiers buried in the cemetery." 
The act gives the corporation perpetual succession and confirms the 



8 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

title to the cemetery grounds already purchased by the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, and declares that the title " shall vest and remain in 
said Commonwealth, in fee simple, in trust for all the States having 
soldiers buried in said grounds ; and said grounds shall be devoted in 
perpetuity to the purpose for which they were purchased, namely, for 
the burial and place of final rest of the remains of the soldiers who 
fell in defense of the Union, in the battle of Gettysburg ; and also 
the remains of the soldiers who fell at other points north of the 
Potomac river, in the several encounters with the enemy during the 
invasion of Lee in the summer of 1863, or died thereafter in conse- 
quence of wounds received in said battle and during said invasion." 
The property of the cemetery was forever exempted from taxation. 



GOVEENOE PAEKEE'S MESSAGE, 1864. 

Governor Parker, in his first message to the Legislature, in January, 
1864, made the following reference to the action of the Governors 
with respect to the cemetery at Gettysburg (Leg. Doc. 1864, p. 22): 

"gettysbukg cemetery. 

" Shortly after the battle of Gettysburg, a proposition was made on 
behalf of the Governor of Pennsylvania that New Jersey should 
co-operate with other loyal States, in the establishment of a cemetery 
at that place, in which should be deposited the remains of those who 
there fell in defense of the Union. The plan embraced the following 
particulars, viz. : that after reserving a large space to be occupied in 
common for the burial of the unknown dead, the cemetery (which is 
to contain about twelve acres) should be divided into lots, in size 
corresponding to the number of dead belonging to the several States, 
in which the dead of such State should be buried ; that the ground 
should be tastefully laid out, and ornamented with trees and shrub- 
bery ; that a keeper's house should be built ; that the grave of each 
soldier whose name was known, should be marked with a proper 
inscription ; and that a suitable monument commemorative of the event 
should be erected ; the expense to be chargeable to a common account, 
and apportioned among the States according to their population, as 
indicated by the number of Representatives in Congress. Not having 
authority to purchase land without the action of the Legislature, I 
responded by approving the object and the general features of the 
plan, with the assurance that I would present the subject favorably to 
the Legislature. Influenced by encouraging responses from the various 
States, the persons having the matter in charge determined to remove 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 9 

the bodies from the fields on which they fell, and to re-inter them in 
the cemetery, before winter should interfere with the prosecution of 
the work. Having been notified of such determination, I despatched 
an agent to Gettysburg, with instructions personally to superintend, 
with the greatest care, the removal of the remains of the New Jersey 
dead. This solemn duty he has performed in a satisfactory manner, 
and thirty-five bodies have been buried in the cemetery, under his 
superintendence. On the nineteenth day of November last, the 
ground was set apart to its sacred purpose, in the presence of a vast 
ooncourse of people." 



DEDICATION OF CEMETERY AND ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT 
LINCOLN, 1863. 

It was at the dedication of the cemetery, November 19th, 1863, 
above referred to by Governor Parker, that President Lincoln made 
his brief but incomparable address, which is here inserted in full : 

" Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this 
continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the 
proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in 
a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so con- 
ceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great 
battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that 
field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that 
that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we 
should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot 
consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and 
•dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor 
power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remem- 
ber what we say here, but it never can forget what they did here. It 
is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work 
which they who fought here have thus far so nobly carried on. It is 
Tather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before 
us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that 
<3au8e for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ; that we 
here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ; that 
this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ; and that 
the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall 
Jiot perish from the earth." 

LEGISLATIVE ACTION, 1864. 

The Legislature of New Jersey, at its first session after the battle 
of Gettysburg, approved the action taken by Governor Parker, respect- 



10 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

ing the cemetery, authorized him to make further expenditures, and to 
appoint a trustee to represent the State in the corporation created by 
the State of Pennsylvania, and appropriated from the War Fund 
$3,000 for the above-mentioned purposes. (P. L. 1864, p. 774.) 

GOVERNOR PARKER'S MESSAGE, 1865. 

Governor Parker, in his message to the Legislature transmitted in 
January, 1865, made the following allusion to the subject of the 
Gettysburg Cemetery : 

" The remains of seventy-seven New Jersey soldiers, who fell in 
the battle of Gettysburg, have been interred in the cemetery at that 
place. The grounds have been inclosed by a substantial fence. The 
monument has not yet been erected. In order to preserve the identity 
of the spot where each soldier was buried, I have caused boards, with 
the name and regiment neatly painted thereon, to be placed at each 
grave. These will soon be replaced by suitable headstones." (Leg^ 
Doc. 186S, p. 17.) 

LEGISLATIVE ACTION, 1865. 

The Legislature of New Jersey, by Joint Resolution, passed April 
5th, 1865, after reciting that it would be necessary to make further 
expenditures for removing and re- interring the bodies of the soldiers 
who died on the battle-field near Gettysburg, and in finishing and 
keeping in repair the cemetery and erecting a monument, appropriated 
from the War Fund the further sum of $3,000. (P. L. 1865, p. 958.) 



GOVERNOR PARKER'S MESSAGE, 1866. 

Governor Parker, in his message to the Legislature transmitted in 
January, 1866, said : 

" In the cemetery at Gettysburg the bodies of seventy-seven New 
Jersey soldiers are entombed. The graves have been regularly graded 
and headstones erected. The avenues have recently been macad- 
amized and trees and shrubbery planted." (Leg. Doc. 1866, p. 25.) 

GOVERNOR WARD'S MESSAGE, 1867. 

Governor Ward, in his message to the Legislature transmitted ia 
January, 1867, said: 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 11 

" Two appropriations have been made towards defraying the ex- 
penses of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg; one in 1864 of $3,000, 
and another in 1865 of a like amount, making a total of $6,000. Of 
this amount $4,077.05 have been expended, leaving an unexpended 
balance of $1,922.95." (Leg. Doc. 1867, p. 22.) 



GOVEKNOK WAED'S MESSAGE, 1868. 

Governor Ward, in his message to the Legislature transmitted in 
January, 1868, states that during the previous year there was dis- 
bursed for Gettysburg Cemetery $1,182.70, and makes the following 
reference to the subject : 

"national cemeteries. 

" The Commissioners of this State for the Gettysburg and Antietam 
National Cemeteries have fulfilled their duties, and the designs are 
being carried out to a successful completion. The dead of our New 
Jersey soldiers have a fitting resting-place where they so nobly fell in 
defense of the nation." (Leg. Doc. 1868, pp. 5, 21, 305.) 



COMPLETION OF THE CEMETERY. 

In the Governor's message, 1869, appears a further payment on 
account of Gettysburg Cemetery of $23.90; in 1870, a further expendi- 
ture of $73.70; in 1871, of $24,20, and in 1872, of $50. 

Levi Scoby and Edward M. Du Bois were successively appointed 
to represent the State of New Jersey in the Board of Trustees of the 
Gettysburg Cemetery. 

There was expended in establishing the cemetery, removing and 
re-interring bodies therein, in planting trees, laying out grounds and 
building the great monument, the sum of $129,523.24. Of this. New 
Jersey paid her full share, being $4,205.30. (Bachelder's Gettysburg,. 
p. 114.) The work was entirely finished and the grounds beautified 
and improved previous to the year 1870. 

TRANSFER OF CEMETERY TO THE UNITED STATES, 1870. 

In the year 1870, the cemetery and its monument being then com- 
pleted, and the Congress of the United States having made provision 
for the care of the national cemeteries by the general government, it 
was determined to turn over the Gettysburg Cemetery to the care of 



12 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 



Congress. This State gave its assent to the transfer on March 16th, 
1870, by an act passed for the purpose. (P. L. 1870, p. 31.) 

From that time until the present the general government has main- 
tained the cemetery, having a keeper and assistants in constant charge. 
About the year 1866, many of the Confederate dead were disinterred, 
removed to Richmond, Virginia, and there given a reburial. 

Many were omitted, however (probably some from both armies), as 
is proved by the fact that bodies are annually being found by the 
farmers who plough the battle-field. Some have been discovered in 
excavating for the monuments. They are generally found near fence 
corners, or in other secluded places, where they escaped the notice of 
the parties sent to open the trenches. 

The following are the States represented and the number of their 
dead in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg : 



Maine 104 

New Hampshire 49 

Vermont 61 

Massachusetts 158 

Rhode Island 14 

Connecticut 22 

New York 867 

New Jersey 78 

Pennsylvania 535 

Delaware 15 

Total 



Maryland 22 

West Virginia , 11 

Ohio 131 

Indiana 80 

Illinois 6 

Michigan 175 

Wisconsin 73 

Minnesota 56 

U. S. Regulars 139 

Unknown 978 

3,575 



THE GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

On the 30th day of April, 1864, the Legislature of Pennsylvania 
also created a corporation known as " The Gettysburg Battle-field 
Memorial Association," with perpetual ; succession, having for its 
object " to hold and preserve the battle-grounds of Gettysburg, on 
which were fought the actions of the first, second and third days of 
July, A. D. 1863, with the natural and artificial defenses, as they were 
at the time of said battle, and by such perpetuation and such memo- 
rial structures as a generous and patriotic people may aid to erect, to 
commemorate the heroic deeds, the struggles and the triumphs of 
their brave defenders." (Pamph. Laws Penna., 1864, p. 670.) 

The charter of this Association, as since amended, endowed the 
Association with the power of acquiring all needed lands, by con- 
demnation, if necessary, and exempts its property from taxation. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 13 

The Governor of each State contributing to the funds of the Asso- 
ciation, is ex- officio a Director, and he may designate a citizen of hi& 
State to act in his stead. 

The Association has made very commendable progress in accom- 
plishing the work for which it was created. Several hundred acres, 
covering the most important portions of the field, have been pur- 
chased, avenues have been opened along the lines of battle in such a 
manner^ as to exhibit the field while altering its features to the least 
extent. Field-works have been restored and maintained ; cannon 
have been mounted in the position where the batteries stood, sign 
posts have been erected, showing the location of the regiments ; walls 
and fences have been maintained as they were. 

When it is observed that the lines of battle run through many 
farms and fields, gardens and woods, across brooks and over hills, 
without regard to the lines of agricultural operations, it will be seen 
that the land damages are necessarily great, and that much opposition 
must be encountered in fully carrying out the designs of the Associa- 
tion. Enough has been done, however, to prove that the undertaking 
will be a complete success. 

The funds required for the work of the Association are for the 
most part provided by the States whose troops fought in the Army 
of the Potomac. New Jersey donated |3,000 to the work of the 
Association. (P. L. 1886, Chap. CXCIX.) 



GOVERNMENT SURVEYS AND DONATIONS OF CANNON. 

The Federal Government has caused the entire battle-field and the 
adjacent country to be accurately surveyed and leveled and contour 
maps to be made. Upon these maps the positions of all troops 
engaged during the three days, have been laid down by Col. John B. 
Bachelder, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, a gentleman who has made 
a constant study of the field and of the history of the battle from its 
occurrence to the present time. 

Congress, in 1873, also donated a large number of cannon and can- 
non balls to the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association " for 
the purpose of their work of indication of the battle-field of Gettys- 
burg," which have been effectively used. 

In 1887 the Federal Government made a further donation of can- 
non, allowing one for each battery engaged in the battle, of the caliber 



14 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

and pattern used by the battery. They are placed upon carriages in 
the positions occupied by the batteries, and serve to indicate, in a strik- 
ing way, the part played by the artillery. The New Jersey Commis- 
sioners obtained from this supply two ten-pounder Parrot rifles, and 
placed one in the position held by Clark's Battery on July 2d, and 
the other in the position held, in action, by Hexamer's Battery, under 
Lieutenant Parsons, on July 3d. These guns have been placed upon 
carriages made entirely of iron, and will, if properly cared for, remain 
in place for many years. 

MONUMENTS ON THE FIELD. 

The work of rearing monuments and posts on the battle-field to 
indicate the positions held by the several regiments in the fight, seems 
to have been begun by the veterans of the Second Massachusetts 
Infantry, a famous and noble regiment enlisted in April, 1861. 

In the year 1879 they erected, near Spangler's spring, at the right 
of the Union line, and near the position of their companions, the 
Thirteenth New Jersey, a granite block mounted upon a huge boulder, 
bearing a bronze tablet with the following inscription : 

" From the hill behind this monument, on the morning of July 
third, 1863, the Second Massachusetts Infantry made an assault upon 
the Confederate troops in the woods at the base of Gulp's hill, oppo- 
site. The regiment carried to the charge 22 officers and 294 enlisted 
men. It lost 4 officers and 41 enlisted men killed and mortally 
wounded, and 6 officers and 84 enlisted men wounded. To perpetu- 
ate the honored memories of that hour, the survivors of the regiment 
have erected this stone, 1879." 

This modest monument with its thrilling record seems to have 
suggested the extensive marking and embellishing of the field that 
has since been undertaken. The State of Massachusetts soon made 
an appropriation for marking the positions of all her regiments, and 
erected beautiful and substantial monuments in various parts of the 
field. Other States followed with more or less promptness. At the 
present time it may be said that all the eighteen States whose troops 
fought under General Meade have made some provision for the erec- 
tion of monuments. In nearly all cases the provision has been gen- 
erous and ample ; in the case of the State of New York it has been 
munificent, the appropriations amounting to a quarter of a million 
dollars. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 15 

There are now erected upon the battle-field more than three hundred 
monuments, besides numerous posts and small shafts indicating less 
important positions. 

Many others are hereafter to be erected, some of them of greater 
cost and elaboration than any yet built. It is believed that there will 
eventually be at least one monument to mark the position of each 
of the 350 regiments and batteries of the Union army present at 
Gettysburg. 

LEGISLATIVE PEOVISION BY NEW JERSEY FOR MONUMENTS. 

By act of April 20th, 1885 (P. L. 1885, p. 273), the Legislature 
of New Jersey appropriated $2,500, to be expended by the Gov- 
ernor and Comptroller of the Treasury in the erection of " suitable 
monuments, properly inscribed, to mark the position of any of the 
New Jersey regiments who took part in the battle of Gettysburg 
during the late War of the Rebellion." 

Under this act the Governor and Comptroller made no expenditures, 
but took some preliminary steps towards the task of erecting monu- 
ments. The Comptroller in his annual report, November 2d, 1885, 
said : 

" This money has not yet been paid from the treasury, but will 
doubtless be required in the coming year, as arrangements have been 
made with officers of the designated regiments to have the locations 
properly determined, and steps have been taken to secure a suitable 
design for the required monuments." 

By a supplement passed April 27th, 1886 (P. L. 1886, Chap. 
CXCIX.), the Legislature appropriated, in lieu of the appropriation 
of 1885, $3,000 for the use of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial 
Association for the purchase of sites and the preservation of the battle- 
grounds with the natural and artificial defenses of the same; and 
^6,000 "for the purpose of properly marking the positions of the 
New Jersey regiments, batteries and brigades, and of erecting a 
monument or monuments, suitably inscribed." The act provided 
that the Governor should appoint three Commissioners to carry out 
the provisions of the act ; and that they should " determine the style, 
number and location of the marks and monuments to be erected under 
this act and shall erect the same with all convenient speed ; in making 
«uch location they shall designate and call to their aid one officer or 



16 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

enlisted man who was present at the battle of Gettysburg from each 
New Jersey regiment and battery there engaged, and with their assist- 
ance and that of the officers of said Association shall locate the lines 
and positions occupied by the respective regiments and batteries." By 
a further supplement passed March 16th, 1887, the appropriation for 
marking the positions and erecting monuments was increased to 
$15,450. 

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONEKS TO BUILD MONUMENTS. 

Pursuant to this legislation, Governor Abbett on May 27th, 1886, 
appointed James N. Duify and Gottfried Krueger, of Newark, and 
William H. Corbin, of Elizabeth, Commissioners. The Commis- 
sioners met on June 8th, 1886, and organized by the election of 
James N. Duffy as Chairman, and William H. Corbin as Secretary. 



NEW JERSEY REGIMENTS ENGAGED AT GETTYSBURG. 

The State of New Jersey was represented at Gettysburg by twelve 
regiments of infantry volunteers, one of cavalry volunteers and two 
batteries of artillery volunteers. These were the First, Second, Third, 
Fourth and Fifteenth Infantry, constituting the " First New Jersey 
Brigade," First Division, Sixth Army Corps; the Fifth, Sixth, 
Seventh and Eighth Infantry, belonging to the " Second New Jersey 
Brigade," being the Third Brigade of the Second Division of the 
Third Army Corps ; the Eleventh Infantry, belonging to the First 
Brigade of the Second Division of the Third Army Corps; the 
Twelfth Infantry, belonging to the Second Brigade, Third Division, 
Second Army Corps ; the Thirteenth Infantry, belonging to the Third 
Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps; the First Cavalry, 
belonging to the First Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps, 
Army of the Potomac; Battery A (Hexamer's), belonging to the 
Fourth Volunteer Brigade of the Artillery Reserve Corps, Army of 
the Potomac ; Battery B (Clark's), belonging to the Artillery Brigade 
of the Second Division, Third Army Corps. The total strength of 
these commands in the battle of Gettysburg was about 4,500, the 
strength of each being on June 30th, 1863, "present for duty," as 
follows : 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 17 



ORGANIZATIONS. 



First Cavalry , 

Battery A 

Battery B , 

First Infantry , 

Second Infantry 

Third Infantry 

Fourth Infantry , 

Fifth Infantry , 

Sixth Infantry , 

Seventh Infantry , 

Eighth Infantry , 

Twelfth Infantry , 

Thirteenth Infantry , 

Fifteenth Infantry 

Eleventh Infantry (as per report of the battle). 



55 
O 



18 
4 
4 
26 
28 
26 
24 
15 
13 
22 
13 
25 
28 
21 



216 
112 
139 
266 
377 
299 
362 
206 
233 
309 
185 
507 
332 
420 



o 
H 



234 
116 
143 
292 
405 
325 
386 
221 
246 
331 
198 
532 
360 
441 
275 

4.505 



DESIGNATION OF SOLDIERS TO ASSIST IN LOCATING LINES. 

Having determined what commands were present at the battle, the 
Commission next designated and called to their aid in making the 
locations provided for in the act, the following officers and enlisted 
men. Where rank is given it is the rank held at the time of the 
battle of Gettysburg : First Infantry — First Sergeant William 
Brant; Second Infantry — Surgeon Lewis W. Oakley, Lieut. Joseph 
Donovan ; Third Infantry — First Sergeant A. W. Cattell ; Fourth 
Infantry — John P. Beech; Fifteenth Infantry — Corporal Jacob 
Reidinger ; Fifth Infantry — Col. William J. Sewell ; Sixth Infantry 
— Joseph Smith ; Seventh Infantry — First Sergeant W. H. H. Con- 
dit, Theodore Searing; Eighth Infantry — Sergeant Benjamin Murphy; 
Eleventh Infantry — Frank P. Mulcahy ; Twelfth Infantry — Sergeant 
James White ; Thirteenth Infantry — Samuel Toombs ; First Cavalry 
— Lieut. George A. Bowne ; Battery A — Frederick Heuschkel ; 
Battery B, First Artillery — Capt. A. J. Clark. These designa- 
tions were made prior to the 30th of June, 1886, in order that the 
persons designated might be at Gettysburg with the Commission on 
the anniversary of the battle. It was believed that besides the advan- 
tage of seeing the ground at the very time of year when the battle 
was fought, assistance could be obtained from the many veterans who 

2 



18 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

would be upon the field at the time, and so it proved. Nearly all the 
regiments had several survivors present, and they rendered valuable 
assistance to the Commission and to their comrades who had been 
designated for the work, in tracing out the exact positions occupied. 

The designation for Battery A was not made until May, 1887, 
it being impossible before that time to find a survivor of that battery 
able to perform the service. 

LOCATION OF LINES AND POSITIONS. 

The Commissioners, with the officers and men designated, together 
with Adjutant- General Stryker, who had been deputed by the Gov- 
ernor to accompany and assist the Commission, proceeded to Gettys- 
burg, and on the first and second days of July, 1886, located the 
principal positions of the regiments and batteries (except Battery 
A). Stakes, properly marked, were driven in the center of the 
positions. Where several positions were occupied during the battle, 
the most advanced position occupied and held was selected. Positions 
in skirmish line, however, were not marked. The interesting task of 
tracing the lines ©f battle and defining the exact spots held by the 
regiments occupied two days. The work was done with great care, 
and the Commission succeeded, in every instance, in fixing the loca- 
tions beyond question. Owing to the fact that the New Jersey 
troops were represented in every arm of the service, and were 
attached to several diiferent corps, the positions they occupied, 
and which have be^en marked, are widely scattered over the battle- 
field. The position of the First Cavalry Regiment is about three 
miles from the nearest of the other positions, it having been engaged 
in the severe cavalry fight on the right flank on the third of July. 
The Eleventh and Seventh Regiments and Battery B were near the 
Peach Orchard, which is about three miles (measured along the line 
of battle) from the position of the Thirteenth, near Spangler's spring. 
The Eighth was in the Wheat-field ; the Fifth in the front line on the 
Emmettsburg road ; the Sixth at the Devil's Den ; the Twelfth and 
Battery A near the center, on Cemetery hill, and Gen. Torbert's 
brigade was on the northerly slope of Little Round Top. The New 
Jersey troops were represented at most of the important points of the 
second and third days' battles. 

The Commissioners are much indebted to the officers and men desig- 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 19 

nated to assist in locating lines, for their cheerful and faithful aid. 
They entered into the task with enthusiasm, and patiently and with 
much painstaking followed up every means of inquiry and observation 
to come to the exact truth. Their comrades, also, who were present, 
and General Stryker, rendered the Commission valuable assistance. 

Questions having been subsequently raised as to the exact poeitions 
of the Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh and Thirteenth Regiments of 
Infantry, and the First Cavalry, several officers of those commands 
were appealed to. In some cases twelve or more survivors of a regi- 
ment were consulted, and went over the ground with the Commis- 
sioners. The result in every case was a concurrence of judgment in 
favor of the sites finally selected, upon which the monuments now 
stand, and no essential alterations were made in the positions first 
selected. The re-examination of the subject thus made served to con- 
firm by a great weight of evidence the correctness of the positions 
first located. 

In the case of the First Cavalry position, the Commission are 
indebted to Captains Miller and Wagner and Col. Hamp. Thomas, 
gallant officers of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, who, at much 
personal inconvenience, went to Gettysburg and pointed out upon the 
field the positions occupi«d and the movements made, according to 
their recollection. Captain Miller, having been with Major Hart, 
who commanded two squadrons of the First Cavalry, near the right 
of the line, was well qualified to speak of the operations of that por- 
tion of the regiment, and Captain Wagner and CoL Thomas being 
staff officers of General Mcintosh, who placed the regiment in the 
line of battle, were peculiarly fitted to assist in identifying the scene 
of their operations. The movements of the cavalry were so rapid 
and so eccentric that it Was no easy task to decide upon one point 
which should best represent their position in the battle, but after a 
prolonged and patient comparison of views. Captain Bowne, the 
officer of the First Cavalry selected by the Commission, reached an 
agreement with the officers above named, and with other survivors of 
the battle who were consul^d, which was entirely satisfactory to the 
Commission. 

'THE SITES OF THE MONUMENTS. 

After much consideration the Commission determined that the posi- 
tion of each of the fifteen commands should be marked, and, as a 



20 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

rule, each should have a separate monument. In the case of the 
First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifteenth Kegiments, however, 
which composed what was called the First New Jersey Brigade, the 
Commission made an exception. These regiments (except the Fourth, 
which was guarding ammunition a little to the rear) were together in 
the line of battle of July 3d, but were not engaged except on the 
skirmish and picket lines. The Commission therefore decided to 
erect one monument to this brigade on the center of its position, also 
placing substantial granite posts to mark the flanks of each regiment. 
This course met the approval of the survivors of the brigade, as 
expressed by a vote at their reunion in the autumn of 1886. 

The Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh and Twelfth Regi- 
ments of Infantry, and Batteries A and B of the artillery, were 
all heavily engaged, at different places, no two being together. All 
suffered severely and fought with great courage and devotion to duty. 
The Commission determined to erect a monument to each of these 
commands. The survivors of the Twelfth Regiment had already 
erected, in the main line of battle near Bryan's barn, on Cemetery 
ridge, an appropriate monument. It happens that this regiment per- 
formed a heroic special service worthy of commemoration. On the 
evening of July 2d, four of its companies were ordered to charge 
upon a large barn in an open field, six hundred yards to their front, 
and dislodge the enemy's sharpshooters. The barn stood at the rear 
of the Confederate skirmish line and midway between the lines of 
battle of the two armies. The charge was made under a terrific fire 
of musketry and artillery ; the Confederate skirmish line was broken 
and ninety-seven prisoners brought back from the barn. The four 
companies lost forty men in the assault. On the morning of July 3d 
five other companies were ordered to repeat the assault, which they 
successfully did, capturing the barn, driving back the Confederate 
skirmishers and bringing back two prisoners. They also lost heavily. 
The barn was soon after again taken by other troops, and, by order of 
the division commander, burned. 

The Commissioners decided to raise a shaft on the site of the barn, 
commemorative of this incident. 

The Thirteenth Infantry suffered from sharpshooters in its position 
on the right, near Rock creek, though not heavily engaged. It 
moved to the support of the bloody charge made by one-half of its 
brigade under Col. Colgrove, on the morning of July 3d, at Spangler's 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 21 

spring. It rendered other trying service during the battle. It was 
decided to erect a monument to the Thirteenth at its position on Rock 
creek. The First Cavalry made a most gallant fight at RummeFs 
farm, on the right flank, on July 3d, being engaged several hours. 
Its monument was located on its position near RummeFs house. 

A detailed description of the site of each monument will be found 
in the deed and undertaking concerning sites for monuments executed 
by the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association, appended to 
this report in Appendix A. 

LAND FOE THE MONUMENTS. 

By the act of 1886, $3,000 were appropriated, to be paid to the 
Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association for the purpose, among 
others, of securing the necessary lands upon which to erect the monu- 
ments ; this money was paid in September, 1886, and in consideration 
thereof the Association covenanted with the State of New Jersey that 
they either did then hold or would speedily secure the land required 
for the monuments and cause avenues of approach to be laid out and 
maintained, with a perpetual right of way to the public. 

This covenant has been substantially, though not exactly, performed. 

First New Jersey Brigade. — In the case of the First New Jersey 
Brigade, the Association bought and now hold the entire farm of 
George Weikert on which the First, Sec»nd, Third and Fifteenth 
Regiments stood ; they also secured a legal right to erect and main- 
tain the shaft to the Fourth Regiment beside the highway on the 
farm of George Spangler. 

Fifth Regiment. — For the Fifth Regiment the Memorial Associa- 
tion bought and hold a plot containing 400 square feet on the west 
side of the Emmettsburg road. 

Sixth Regiment. — The monument of the Sixth Regiment stands 
upon a tract of land including DeviFs Den and a part of Round Top, 
bought since the battle and now owned by General S. W. Crawford. He 
generously and cordially gave consent in writing, directed both to the 
Commission and to the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association, 
to the erection and maintenance of the monument. To the Commis- 
sion he wrote : " Nothing can give me greater pleasure than to give 



22 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

such permission. It is for such purpose that I hold the land, and 
the erection of a monument to that gallant regiment will add to its 
intrinsic value." (Letter to Secretary of Commission, October 7th, 
1887.) 

Seventh Regiment and Baiter^ B. — The monuments to the Seventh 
Eegiment and Battery B stand upon the Trostle farm, in a broad 
avenue which the Association has acquired and laid out. 

Eighth Regiment. — The monument to the Eighth Regiment stands 
on the bank of a small brook at the extreme southerly corner of the 
Wheat-field. The Commissioners bought of Rosanna Wible, in the 
name of William H. Corbin, an acre of land for this monument, and 
upon being repaid the cost of the same conveyed it to the Memorial 
Association. 

Eleventh Regiment. — The monument to the Eleventh Regiment 
stands upon the Smith farm, which has been bought and is held by 
the Memorial Association. 

Twelfth Regiment. — The principal monument to the Twelfth Regi- 
ment stands in one of the avenues acquired and laid out by the 
Memorial Association. The shaft erected at the Bliss barn site 
stands upon land acquired by the Society of the Fourteenth Connecti- 
cut Regiment, an incorporated association, who bought the land for 
the purpose of erecting a pillar in memory of an incident of the 
battle in which they were the chief actors. The Society was unwill- 
ing to sell the land or any of it, but cheerfully accorded to the Com- 
mission the privilege of erecting and maintaining a pillar in honor of 
their comrades in arms, the Twelfth New Jersey Regiment. At their 
annual reunion, held at New Britain, September 17th, 1887, they 
unanimously adopted the following resolution : 

"Resolved, That in reponse to a request of the Gettysburg Battle- 
field Commission of the State of New Jersey, we heartily accord to 
said Commission the privilege of erecting upon ground owned by this 
Society on the Bliss place at Gettysburg, Pa., a shaft or marker to 
commemorate the actions of the Twelfth New Jersey Regiment of our 
brigade, in capturing the Bliss barn and house upon said ground on 
the second and third of July, 1863 ; the style of said shaft or marker, 
the inscriptions it shall bear and the spot upon which it shall stand, 
to be first approved by the Monument Committee of this Society, in 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 23 

conformity with the resolution passed by this Society at the meeting 
September 17th, 1886. And we pledge for the memorial said Com- 
mission shall erect on the above conditions, the same protection and 
perpetuity that our own markers on the same plot of ground are 
entitled to." 

Acting upon this license, the Commission submitted their inscrip- 
tion and details of their proposed shaft to the Connecticut Society. 
The same were unanimously approved. The position was agreed on 
by the Commission and a representative of the Society upon the 
ground, the point fixed being twenty- two yards north of the Con- 
necticut pillar. The shaft was set up in the place so designated. 

Thirteenth Regiment. — The monument to the Thirteenth Regiment 
stands on the west bank of Rock creek, in woods belonging to the 
Memorial Association, acquired from Mr. McAllister. 

Battery A. — The monument to Hexamer's Battery stands to the 
east of the main battle-field avenue, on a plot of 400 square feet 
acquired by the Memorial Association for the purpose. 

First Cavalry. — The monument to the First Cavalry Regiment 
stands in an avenue acquired and opened by the Memorial Associa- 
tion along the south line of the Rummel farm. 



DESIGNS AND PROPOSALS— MATERIALS FOR MONUMENTS. 

After much consideration and no little study of the subject, the 
Commission determined that the most enduring materials that could 
be employed would be American granite and true bronze, and they 
accordingly resolved to exclude all other materials. A circular 
inviting designs and proposals was issued and sent to many well- 
known granite- workers and designers. The conditions and require- 
ments of the work were fully explained, and ample time given for 
contractors to prepare designs and proposals. Proposals were received 
from a good number of those invited to compete. 

In several cases the Veteran Associations of the several commands 
appointed " Monument Committees," who selected designs and pro- 
posed them to the Commission, and their action was, so far as prac- 
ticable, ratified, and their requests complied with. The designs for 



24 GETTYSBURG BA.TTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

the monuments erected to the First Cavalry, Eighth, Eleventh and 
Thirteenth Infantry and Battery B were brought to the attention of 
the Commission by members of those commands. 



PERMANENCE OF THE WOEK. 

The purpose of the Commission has been to secure as the first and 
paramount condition permanence and solidity. They have accordingly 
required deep and massive foundations of stone laid in the best 
cement. The designs chosen are simple. Everything involving 
intricate and elaborate construction has been avoided. The effort has 
been made to so construct the monuments as to offer the least possible 
temptation to vandals and relic hunters. With this view the inscrip- 
tions have been made in sunken instead of raised letters. It is 
believed that if the monuments are left unmolested they will with- 
stand the effects of time for several hundred and possibly for several 
thousand years. The granite of which they are constructed is, so far 
as the tests of science can determine, as enduring as the red granite of 
the Nile, from which the famed obelisks were hewn three thousand 
years ago. The progress of decay and disintegration will probably 
not be so slow in America as in Egypt, but in a temperate climate 
like that of Gettysburg, far removed from the sea, it ought not to be 
rapid. 

PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COST OF MONUMENTS. 

Soon after the appointment of the Commission, Major-General 
William S. Stryker, Adjutant-General of New Jersey, and other citi- 
zens, expressed a desire to contribute something towards the building 
of the monuments to the valor of our volunteer soldiers. Some of 
the Veteran Associations also raised funds to be spent in honor of 
their fallen comrades. The Commission received from these sources 
$5,305, all of which was expended upon the monuments for which it 
was donated. The Commission were enabled by these gifts to erect 
more massive and imposing monuments than would otherwise have 
been possible, and to embellish them. The contributors were the fol- 
lowing persons and associations : 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 25 

Veteran Association Thirteenth Infantry (for Thir- 
teenth Regiment monument) , $1,000 00 

William S. Stryker 100 00 

James N. Duffy 160 00 

Gottfried Krueger 160 00 

William H. Corbin 160 00 

John Watts Kearny 1,000 00 

William Walter Phelps 500 00 

John R. MePherson 100 00 

George A. Halsey 100 00 

Robert S. Green 100 00 

T. B. Peddie 25 00 

John I. Blair (for Eleventh Regiment) 100 00 

Dr. C. S. Wurts (for Eleventh Regiment) 100 00 

Job Male (for Eleventh Regiment) 100 00 

John Kean, Jr 50 00 

George Richards 100 00 

Frederick A. Potts 50 00 

Peter Bentley 100 00 . 

P. Ballantine & Sons (for Battery A) 100 00 

Hexamer Post, G. A. R. (for Battery A) 25 00 

Clark Brothers (for Eleventh Regiment) 25 00 

E. Burd Grubb 100 00 

Col. A. J. Clark and others (for Battery B) 200 00 

Veteran Association Eighth Regiment (for Eighth 

Regiment) 350 00 

Veteran Association First Cavalry (for First Cavalry) , 500 00 

$5,305 00 
CONTRACTS FOR MONUMENTS. 

A form of contract and specifications was carefully prepared and 
the contracts were awarded from time to time as the designs were 
settled upon. 

The Thirteenth Regiment Veteran Association having early selected 
a design satisfactory to the Commission, and having raised $1,000 
towards the cost of their monument, the contract for its erection was 
given out much earlier than the others. 

Thirteenth Regiment. — Contract dated December 18th, 1886, awarded 
to the Smith Granite Company, of Westerly, R. I. ; price of monu- 
ment and three markers, $2,000 ; material. Westerly granite. 

Eighth Infantry. — Contract dated September 1st, 1887, awarded to 
Frederick & Field, of Quincy, Massachusetts; price of monument 
and two markers, $1,350 ; material, Quincy granite. 



26 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

Eleventh Infantry. — Contract dated September 22d, 1887, awarded 
to the Smith Granite Company ; price of monument, $1,600 ; material, 
Westerly granite. 

First Cavalry. — Contract dated September 29th, 1887, awarded ta 
Frederick & Field ; price of monument, $1,500 ; material, Quincy 
and Westerly granite. 

Fifth Infantry. — Contract dated September 29th, 1887, awarded to 
Frederick & Field ; price of monument, $1,300 ; material, Hallowell 
granite. 

Sixth Infantry. — Contract dated September 29th, 1887, awarded to 
Frederick & Field ; price of monument and two markers, $1,100 ; 
material, Barre granite. 

Seventh Infantry. — Contract dated September 1st, 1887, awarded to 
Frederick & Field; price of monument, $1,140; material, Quincy 
granite. 

First New Jersey Brigade. — Contract dated October 4th, 1887, 
awarded to the New England Monument Company, of New York ; 
price of monument, with pillar for Fourth Regiment and six markers, 
$5,700 ; material, Quincy and Hallowell granite and bronze. 

Twelfth Regiment. — Contract dated October 22d, 1887, awarded to 
Frederick & Field for the erection of a shaft at the Bliss place, two 
markers on the line of battle and cutting inscription of losses on the 
monument already erected by the Veteran Association of the regi- 
ment ; price of the work, $475 ; material, Quincy granite. 

Battery A. — Contract dated November 26th, 1887, awarded to 
George Brown & Co., of Newark, N. J. ; price of the monument, 
$1,500 ; material, Barre granite. 

Battery B. — Contract dated November 26th, 1887, awarded to 
Frederick & Field ; priceof the monument, $1,300 ; material, Quincy 
granite. 

COST OF MONUMENTS. 

In addition to the contract prices agreed on as above stated, some 
expense was incurred for extra work which was not foreseen, the 



GETTYSBUKG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 27 

greater part being for the cutting of inscriptions of greater length 
than was anticipated. 

The following is a statement of the entire cost of erecting the 
monuments. It does not include cost of land nor any expenses of 
locating the positions, but is confined strictly to the cost of making 
the monuments and putting them in place. The cost of the markers 
for the several regiments is included : 

First New Jersey Brigade $5,950 00 

Fifth Infantry 1,340 00 

Sixth Infantry 1,125 00 

Seventh Infantry 1,175 00 

Eighth Infantry 1,425 00 

Eleventh Infantry 1,600 00 

Twelfth Infantry 525 00 

Thirteenth Infantry 2,000 00 

First Cavalry 1,640 00 

Battery A 1,575 00 

Battery B 1,330 00 

Total cost of monuments $19,685 00 



RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF THE COMMISSION. 

EECEIPTS, 

State appropriation, acts 1886 and 1887 $18,450 00 

Private contributions, above stated 5,305 00 

Land sold in Wheat-field and other receipts 105 80 

$23,860 80 

DISBUESEMKNTS. 

Cost of monuments as above stated $19,685 00 

Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association for 

sites, &c. (Section 1, Act of 1886) ., 3,000 00 

Expenses of locating positions, including transpor- 
tation and subsistence of officers and men taken 
to Gettysburg for that purpose, traveling ex- 
penses of Commission, stationery and all other 
expenses 990 30 

Two Parrot 10-pounder rifles to mark battery posi- 
tions 100 00 

Land bought in Wheat-field 85 50 

$23,860 80 




'•F-5S5;p3^-|^>-'^5fflCa"^___-SfTf^3Bfc^^ 



Monument to Thirteenth Infantry. 

(west bank of rock creek, MCALLISTER'e WOOD8. ) 



DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT 



THIRTEENTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS. 



The dedication took place in McAllister's woods, at the place where 
the monument stands, on July 1st, 1887, at ten o'clock. 

Colonel James N. Duffy, President of the Gettysburg Battle-field 
Commission of New Jersey, called the assembly to order and addressed 
them as follows : 

" Ladies and Gentlemen — I have the honor, as Chairman of 
the Gettysburg Battle-field Commission of New Jersey, of calling 
this assembly to order and of announcing its purpose. Charged by 
our State with the duty of erecting monuments to mark the positions 
occupied by her citizens in the battle fought on this field, we are now 
about to present to you for dedication, in fulfillment of that duty, in 
so far as it relates to the org£Bnization known, and forever to be 
known in her history and in the military records of the United States 
of America, as the Thirteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, 
Infantry. We present it as the testimony of the patriotic, loyal and 
grateful State of New Jersey to the patriotism, loyalty and valor of 
her citizens." 

Music by the band followed, and Colonel Duffy then called upon 
the Rev. E. Livingston Allen, a former member of the Color Guard 
of the Thirteenth, who invoked the blessing of the Almighty. 

Mrs. W. S. Cannon, by request, sang " The Star Spangled Banner " 
in a voice full of emotion and power, which added to the scene an 
impressiveness and fervor which stirred every heart. 

At the close of the singing. Colonel James N. Duffy and William 
H. Corbin, the President and Secretary of the State Commission, 
removed the flags covering the monument. As soon as the monument 
was unveiled Colonel Duffy introduced the Governor of New Jersey, 
who made the following address : 



30 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 



GOVEENOE GEEEN'S ADDEESS. 

"Veterans of the Thirteenth Regiment, Ladies and Gen- 
tlemen — The State, the survivors of the regiment, and their friends, 
have erected this enduring monument to the memory of those who 
have gone to their last resting-place. It is no disparagement to the 
other regiments which New Jersey sent to the field to say that in all 
qualities of soldierly discipline, of untiring endurance, of conspicuous 
bravery, the Thirteenth New Jersey stood in the front rank of those 
grand organizations which formed the armies of the East and West. 
[Applause.] 

"Mustered into service in Camp Frelinghuysen in the summer, after 
a short time spent in camp you were hurriedly sent to join the Army 
of the Potomac at that critical moment of the country's history when 
its own — our own — McClellan, had again been called to its head, at 
Antietam. Although that was the first time the regiment was under 
fire, so nobly did it conduct itself in that fight that it called forth the 
encomiums of General Gordon in his report of the battle : ' And 
although for the first time under fire they fought like veterans, 
shoulder to shoulder with those who had borne the brunt of battle in 
the Peninsula, in the Shenandoah Valley, and from Front Royal to 
the Rapidan.' Again, at Chaacellorsville, you withstood the impetu- 
ous dash and charge of Stonewall Jackson's division. Here at Get- 
tysburg you were hurried to the scene, and the tablet upon that 
monument marks and recorols, and will hand down to history, the 
part that you took in this conflict. 

" Bidding farewell to the Army of the Potomac you were hurried 
to the West, and there you took part in the battles of Resaca, Cass- 
ville, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, in the March to the Sea, 
Buffalo Creek, the fight at Savannah, the campaign through the 
Carolinas ; and in the last battles of the war, where again you served 
under your gallant commander who is here with you to-day. General 
Slocum, you called forth these words of praise from your brigade 
commander, that 'the whole army owed you thanks, for you had 
saved it,' — in three almost resistless charges you had broken and 
driven back the columns of the enemy. 

" Such is the grand record of the Thirteenth. You came back to 
the State which you had honored and which had sent you forth to the 
field of battle. You came back with your work well done. You 



GETTYSBURG BA.TTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 31 

"came back with the principle for which you had started established, 
for this was a war of principle ; it was a war of devotion to the 
country and for the perpetuity of the Union. The end was accom- 
plished, armed rebellion had been put down, peace was again restored 
and the integrity of the Union was established forever. [Applause.] 
" These monuments erected are not only mementos of the valor and 
bravery of those who fell. It is well that here, upon this memorable 
field, dotted all over among these former scenes of carnage and of 
blood, these stones and tablets should be erected, not only for the 
purpose of recording the part which the soldier took in the battle, 
but for the other purpose, that the lesson of the war must never be 
forgotten. They will be here, in the grand old State of Pennsylvania, 
when you and we who are contemporaries of the war have passed away 
— and the veterans are now going fast, fast within the vale. Within 
a short time Grant, McClellan and Hancock have been gathered to 
their fathers. In a little while you and we and all of us who were 
then alive and realized the dangers of the war will have gone, and 
these monuments will show to our children and to those who come 
after us how much danger there was to the unity of this country, for 
with all the force, and courage, and discipline of these States armed 
disunion came thus far within our borders. Let these monuments 
teach the lesson of that war, and so long as they do so teach, so long 
as these dead sentinels keep their watch and v^rd, so long will the 
integrity of the Union be established and never again will the 
supremacy of the Government under the Constitution be assailed." 
[Applause.] 

At the conclusion of Governor Green's address, William H. Corbin, 
Secretary of the Commission, made a formal presentation of the 
monument to the Veteran Association, to be by them turned over to 
the Memorial Association. 



ME. CORBIN'S PRESENTATION. 

" Veterans of the Thirteenth Regiment — T^e State of New 
Jersey has erected this monument for a two-fold purpose : 

" First, to aid in the effort to preserve the history of this fanious 
field ; secondly and chiefly, to place in the sight of all men a memo- 
rial of the gratitude and affection which the State beaft-s towards her 
heroic volunteer soldiers. 



32 GETTYSBUEG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

" It is proper at this point that the following facts be stated : 

"The State, by legislative appropriation, proyided the necessary- 
funds for securing the positions held on this field by New Jersey 
troops, and for erecting and preserving perpetually monuments to all 
the regiments and batteries engaged. 

" Three Commissioners were appointed to carry out the enactment. 
Soon after their appointment, several survivors of the Thirteenth 
Regiment expressed a desire to donate something to the fund so set 
apart for their regiment as a tribute to the memory of their fallen 
comrades. 

" The Commission readily assented to this. The result was that not 
only the survivors of the regiment offered their gifts, but many 
citizens, being townsmen and neighbors of the men of the Thirteenth, 
sent in free-will offerings which were added to the others, until there 
was thus collected the sum of one thousand dollars, a sum equal to 
the State appropriation for the monument. 

"And so it is that we present to you to-day a work modeled and 
fashioned not alone by the decree of a generous and grateful Common- 
wealth, but a work embellished by the willing hands of neighbors 
and friends, and finished and made beautiful by the loving touch of 
comrades in battle. 

" To give this stone value as an item in the history of the great battle 
it was essential that it be located upon the exact position occupied by 
the line; that every statement upon it be absolute truth; that it be 
built not as a pretty toy to please our eyes to-day, but that it be as a 
mighty immovable rock, which shall defy the storms of the centuries, 
and remain a witness to unnumbered ages to come. 

" To secure these ends no pains have been spared and no effort omit- 
ted. The foundations of this monument are laid deep down in the 
earth ; the most excellent methods of construction have been followed. 
The materials used are the best that experience can suggest or scien- 
tific research approve. The monument is precisely in the line of the 
works occupied by the Thirteenth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry 
and it stands on the spot where the colors of that regiment stood on 
July 3d, 1863. The scene so beautifully carved by the sculptor upon 
this stone is not merely a conceit of the artist ; it tells a part of the 
story of the battle. What is shown here is very fact. Look at this 
picture ; thus the men of the Thirteenth fought here. Observe this 
soldier cut in stone ; precisely so were the men of New Jersey clad 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 33 

and accoutred at Gettysburg. This rifle, poised for its fatal work, is a 
perfect counterfeit of the rifles used with such deadly eflPect in this place. 

"The words cut on this granite are a simple recital of the truth, 
gleaned with much care, verified with great painstaking and estab- 
lished beyond doubt. Disputed facts have been omitted. Doubtful 
assertions have not been made. It may be, nay, it must be, that 
much has been omitted that might be truthfully told. 

" All that has been said has the sanction of official record and of 
living witnesses. 

" The history of this field has been made ; we cannot add to, nor 
can we abate anything of its glory. We are making up the book of 
that history for future generations the more easily to read. If in the 
little page of it here inserted to-day we have made a faithful record, 
we may rejoice that we have even that humble part in the mighty 
struggle wherein the fate of our country was decided and salvation 
assured. 

" I have said this monument has a two-fold significance. As a guide- 
post on this field it is well. As a reminder that the soil whereon it 
stands is sacred, blood-bought ground, it is praiseworthy. But it has 
a deeper meaning. It means that he who offers up his home, his 
peace, his comfort and his life for his country shall be held in ever- 
lasting remembrance and his name honored throughout all genera- 
tions. It means that the State will see to it that the memory of the 
brave shall not decay, and that men shall not lack perpetual witnesses 
to the patriotism of their fathers. This monument means that we 
revere the memory of the fallen of the Thirteenth New Jersey Vol- 
unteers, and that we respect and honor their comrades who still 
survive. We remember their services and we do not forget their 
sufferings. In the darkest hour of war they willingly and ungrudg- 
ingly left their homes, their farms, their shops and their desks and 
hurried to the conflict. While they were still untrained and unused 
even to the parades and forms of war, they were, within one short 
month from the time of their enlistment, plunged into the bloody 
and awful battle of Antietam. From that day forth for three long 
years their daily lot was to march, to fight, to hunger and to suffer. 
They forded rivers, they toiled painfully along rough roads under a 
broiling sun, they fainted beneath the burdens too heavy to bear, they 
slept amidst cold and frost, they were wounded, mutilated, imprisoned, 
tormented, killed. 



34 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

"They endured with fortitude, they fought with courage, they 
obeyed with cheerfulness. 

"Veterans of the Thirteenth, let not the memory of your past 
sufferings nor the weakness of advancing years depress your brave 
hearts. Believe not for a moment that your sorrows have been in 
vain or that your battles have been forgotten. Be assured that the 
flight of years shall but serve to bring to a clearer light your courage 
and your patriotism. Comfort your declining years with the just 
reflection that the unselfish sacrifice of the strength of your youth 
was made, by the blessing of Almighty God, an instrument for the 
salvation of your country and the establishment of liberty, justice 
and peace. 

" The Battle-field Commission of New Jersey have now the honor, 
in the name of the State, to deliver to you this monument, to be by 
you delivered to the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association, 
who have engaged, with the State of New Jersey, that it shall be for- 
ever unmolested, cared for and maintained. 

" May this stone stand till oppression shall cease and true liberty 
become the possession of every citizen of this Eepublic. May it be 
spared from the destroying hand of malice and treason. May it never 
suffer from indifference and neglect. May it withstand the ravages 
of time until wars shall cease in the earth, until hatred and envy, 
murder and strife, shall be at an end ; until every man shall love his 
neighbor as himself, and the kingdoms of this world become the 
kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." 

The response was made by General F. H. Harris, President of the 
Thirteenth Regiment Veteran Association. Owing to the enforced 
absence of General Harris, his paper was read by Surgeon J. H. H. 
Love, as follows : 

PEESIDENT HAEEIS' ADDKESS. 

" Colonel Duffy, President of the Battle-field Commission of New 
Jersey : 

"Sir — As the representative of the Veteran Association of the 
Thirteenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, I hereby accept, for 
the time being, the monument which has just been unveiled by your 
Commission. 

" It has been erected by the joint contributions of the State of New 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 35 

Jersey and of this Association. On behalf of the Association I desire 
to thank the people of the State for this exhibition of affection and 
gratitude toward her sons who participated in the trials, dangers and 
hardships of the soldier's life, and present to the Commission repre- 
senting them our thanks for the energy and good taste displayed in 
the construction of this beautiful and appropriate monument. 

" Comrades — It is an occasion of peculiar interest on which we 
meet once more, the anniversary of the illustrious battle fought on 
this field twenty-four years ago. 

** With grateful pride we reach the consummation of our wishes, 
as to-day we dedicate the monument inscribed with our regiment's 
achievements, not only upon this field, but upon many another during 
the war. 

" This monument shall stand, among the many which are to be 
erected here, as a silent sentinel to indicate to future generations where 
soldiers of bravery and renown gave up their lives in defense of their 
country; to show where are the graves of the true patriots who 
dared to die for the hopes of man and the redemption of a race from 
slavery. 

" Referring to the question of the propriety of having a National 
Battle-field Park, its location, and our inheritance in the same, let us 
briefly consider some movements, of the army and of the regiment, 
which preceded and accompanied the battle of Gettysburg. 

" With varying fortunes the Army of the Potomac and the Army 
of Northern Virginia had confronted each other on many a battle- 
field. They had reversed their position from victory to defeat, but 
victory had not often perched upon our banners. The first Bull Run 
battle, the Peninsula campaign, the Second Bull Run, had all been 
fought, and the result left these armies standing face to face almost 
within sight of Washington, when the Thirteenth Regiment entered 
the field. 

" In consequence of the successes that had previously attended the 
Southern army. General Lee decided to transfer the scene of hostilities 
north of the Potomac and make an invasion of Union territory. The 
disastrous results of this attempt at Antietam in September, 1862, sent 
his forces back to Virginia defeated, and the first invasion of the 
North proved an utter failure. 

"By their successes at Chancellorsville in May, 1863, the Confede- 
rates were greatly elated, while our own troops were correspondingly 



36 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

depressed. Half the time covered by the war from Sumter to Appo- 
mattox had passed, and the two years of service with its losses in 
battle and in camp had made heavy drafts upon the resources of the 
Southern people, in men and munitions, making decided action neces- 
sary. Under this pressure, notwithstanding the result of the previous 
year, General Lee again decided to make the desperate attempt of 
invading Union territory, on this occasion among the loyal people of 
Pennsylvania. Assurances of assistance from the disloyal elements 
of the North had been given to them, and they confidently expected 
that a diversion would be created in their favor. The greatest alarm 
prevailed throughout the North, and prompt measures were taken to 
meet the emergency. Men were secured, but arms were not available. 

" General Lee's army, flushed with victory, confident in their own 
and their commander's invincibility, entered into the movement, 
which it was hoped, like a tidal wave, should sweep away every 
barrier, threaten Philadelphia, take possession of Baltimore, sub- 
merge Washington, declare the Rebellion a success, and from the 
National Capital dictate terms of separation to the United States 
Government. This was the grand scheme which had been devised, 
with a view of ending the war, and which, but for the noble action 
of our army at this point, might have proved successful. 

" It was under these circumstances that these old antagonists, after 
several days of manoeuvering, met on this battle-field. The successes 
of July 1st, where, upon the soil of his native State, General Reynolds 
fell, greatly encouraged the enemy ; and those of the second day on 
the right, notwithstanding their repulse at Round Top, gave them 
hopes of ultimate victory. Enough of success and defeat had been 
experienced during these two days by each army to arouse all the 
energies of chivalric soldiers, and to produce the most desperate deter- 
mination to succeed. 

" The Confederate host had pressed its way far toward the heart of 
the loyal territory and was stretching out its hand to snatch the crown 
of victory. A disappointment of their hopes was not to be tolerated. 
A defeat so far from their base of supplies might lead to the most 
serious consequences. To us defeat might prove equally disastrous. 

" On the morning of the third day, the Confederates, after several 
hours of hard fighting, were driven from that portion of our breast- 
works of which they had taken possession the previous evening. In 
the afternoon the most stupendous effort was to be made to break our 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 37 

line at Cemetery hill. Momentous was the issue. The prize con- 
tended for was no less than the destinies of the nation, and the interests 
of mankind trembled in the balance. The people awaited the result 
with breathless silence. From one to three o'clock was fought the 
greatest artillery duel of the war. It was designed to cripple and 
destroy our artillery as well as to weaken our army. 

" In long and beautiful lines, the flower of the Southern army, full 
of enthusiasm, moved forward under command of General Pickett in 
this final charge to vanquish our forces. On and on they came, swept 
by artillery as they traversed the long intervening space, and by the 
unerring aim of our infantry when within short range. 

" ' Then shook the hills with thunder riven, 
Then rushed the steeds to battle driven, 
And louder than the bolts of heaven 
Far flashed the red artillery.' 

"Their ranks were thinned as the dead and wounded fell out. 
Shouting their peculiar war-cry, which still rings in our ears, they 
struggled on with indomitable perseverance and well-nigh gained the 
crest and the success they coveted. But our comrades, nerved by this 
occasion, gallantly resisted the terrific onset and drove back the enemy 
with immense loss. The victory was ours, the Confederacy was 
doomed. Its swelling waves had dashed against the citadel of free- 
dom, but now they recede and were ultimately stilled at Appomattox. 
The Confederate forces were never again to try their prowess on loyal 
territory. 

" The news of our victory at Gettysburg filled the land with joy, 
and, when on the following day the great commander. General Grant, 
telegraphed that Vicksburg had fallen, the people celebrated the anni- 
versary of our national independence with unwonted thankfulness and 
exultation, as they recognized the fact that we had met with a great 
deliverance, that the war to destroy the Union was a failure, and that 
success would eventually crown our eiForts. 

" Comrades— The three great battles to which I have referred, one 
in each of the States of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, were 
those in which we as members of the Army of the Potomac were 
engaged. We shall never forget the sudden and urgent call that 
came to us, to which we responded with alacrity, as we left our 
homes on the Slst of August, 1862. We reached Virginia as the 



38 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

army was returning from the second defeat at Bull Run, in time to 
unite in the movement to drive the invader from Union territory. 

" The command of our army had again been given to our gallant 
Jersey man, General McCJellan. We were placed in Gordon's brigade, 
Williams' division of Banks' old corps, then commanded by General 
Mansfield. We joined in the pursuit of the enemy through Frederick 
City and the Middletown Valley, and on the hills of Antietam we 
received our first baptism of blood. The qficial report of our action 
is one of which we may well be proud. 

" General Gordon states that, having received a call from General 
Green for reinforcements, ' I directed the Thirteenth New Jersey to 
support him.' ' 1 am gratified to report that the General has spoken 
to me of their conduct in terms of the highest commendation.' Gen- 
eral Gordon further reports : ' In this battle officers and men behaved 
with most praiseworthy intrepidity and coolness ; being new troops 
they might well stand appalled at such exposure, but they did not 
flinch in the discharge of their duty. I have no words but praise for 
their conduct. They fought like veterans, and stood shoulder to 
shoulder with those who had borne the brunt of war on the Penin- 
sula, in the Shenandoah Valley, and from Front Royal to the Rapidan. 
They were led by those who inspired them with courage, and they 
followed with a determination to conquer or die.' 

" In this battle Captain H. C. Irish and six others of our members 
were killed, and seventy wounded, of whom eleven afterward died. 
General Mansfield also was killed, and the Twelfth Corps was placed 
under the leadership of our esteemed commander, whom we rejoice to 
have with us to-day, General Henry W. Slocum. 

" But time admonishes me that my reference to our record must be 
brief. 

" The camp at Maryland Heights, at Sharpsburg, the march into 
Virginia on December 10th to join the movement of the army then 
commanded by General Burnside, and known as the ' mud raid,' our 
camp at Fairfax Station with its discomforts, at Wolfe Run Shoals, 
and the winter at Stafford Court House we shall not readily forget. 

" Our participation in the Chancellorsville campaign, led by ' Fight- 
ing Joe Hooker,' its hardships and severe losses, our return to the 
old camp at Stafford, the regiment and the army dispirited, but still 
courageous, are fresh in our memory. 

" To join in the movement at Gettysburg, we left our camp June 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 39 

13th, crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on the 26th, and by- 
rapid marches approached this field. On Union soil the spirit of our 
army was fully restored. On this march we learned of the change of 
commanders from General Hooker to General Meade. 

" Twenty-four years ago this morning, at Littlestown, we prepared 
to meet a threatened attack upon the town, but the enemy hastily 
retired. At Two Taverns we halted at noon, but orders were 
received to move rapidly forward. When near and on the east side 
of Rock creek we formed in line of battle, and a strong skirmish 
line was thrown forward toward Benner's hill. They were, however, 
withdrawn, for it was desired not to bring on an engagement at that 
point. 

" We are nevertheless satisfied that this movement produced import- 
ant results, as in consequence of it the advance of the enemy was 
checked and they were prevented from making a contemplated effort 
to turn the right flank of our army and attack our rear. We subse- 
quently crossed the creek and occupied the line near Gulp's hill 
during the morning of July 2d. In the afternoon we marched to the 
relief of the sorely-pressed Third Corps, near Round Top. At night 
we returned to the right of the army. July 3d we occupied the posi- 
tion marked by this monument where we now are, supporting the 
Second Massachusetts and the Twenty-seventh Indiana in their 
charge upon the Confederate flank, and aided in the repulse of a 
counter-charge by the enemy. Toward evening we supported a cav- 
alry reconnoissance. 

" The services we rendered in this battle were important, though 
our losses were not heavy ; but the value of a service is not to be 
determined by the casualties. We joined the pursuit of the enemy 
into Virginia, where our service was terminated with the grand old 
Army of the Potomac. We were transferred to the West, there to 
unite in the further pursuit of the enemy. 

" Thus, at the commencement of your service, you received the 
highest encomiums of your ofificers, and in every battle you nobly 
sustained the glorious record of your troops from the State of New 
Jersey. 

" The ancient Jews by the direction of God set up their memorial 
stones on the fields of their great successes as mementos of those 
achievements. At our home stands the statue of our brave and 
beloved Kearny to keep alive the spirit of patriotism. But it seems 



40 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

to us more appropriate that the monument upon which is inscribed 
our battle record should be located on this field, consecrated by the 
bravery and blood of our comrades. 

" By reason of the destructiveness of the appliances and engines of 
war now in use, the battles of modern times demand more bravery 
than was exhibited in other generations. When we consider the 
fierceness with which this battle was contested, and the number of 
those who fell, and the interests involved, we are confident that no 
battle in the history of the world was more momentous in its conse- 
quences or more important in its results. 

"At this point the climax was reached and the history of the war 
was changed. 

" In view of these facts, had the whole field of operations of the 
war been surveyed we are sure that no battle-field could have been 
found more appropriate than this upon which to locate a great battle- 
field memorial park. Located in one of the thirteen States of the 
original sisterhood, Nature has done much with her rock-ribbed hills, 
her fields of living green, her grandly-diversified scenery, to beautify 
and adorn this spot. 

"As the years roll on and our comrades, our citizens and future 
generations shall visit this scene of conflict, and read inscribed upon 
these monuments the record of the valor and sufferings of our army, 
they will be inspired with a more exalted patriotism, a deeper love 
of our flag, and it will not be in vain that this field has been thus 
dedicated. 

" Whatever efforts may be made ' to obliterate all traces of the 
Rebellion in our land,' by returning to the South the flags captured by 
the gallantry of our troops on many a battle-field, this monument, 
from the granite hills of the State that gave us General Burnside, 
shall never be removed, while guarded by the loyal people of the 
great State of Pennsylvania. 

" When our misguided brethren lately in arms against us say ' for- 
give,' let us, in accordance with the principles of the religion we 
profess, say, with outstretched hands and cordial greetings, ' forgiven ; ' 
but let us never forget that treason was treason, and that loyalty was 
loyalty. 

"Amid these hallowed surroundings, as we dedicate this monument, 
let us pledge each other to dedicate ourselves anew to our country. 
Let us swear ever to maintain this glorious Union, that her foes shall 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 41 

be our foes, her friends our friends, and that her interests shall always 
be dear to our hearts ; and, as the nation moves grandly forward to 
its final destiny, may we always remember that its liberties were 
saved at Gettysburg. 

*' To the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association : 

"Gentlemen — It gives me great pleasure as the representative of 
the Veteran Association of the Thirteenth Regiment, New Jersey 
Volunteers, to transfer to your care this monument which has just 
been unveiled, believing that your Association will, for all coming 
time, care for and protect the same, and that it shall always stand as 
a memento of the valor and sufferings of those loyal men who fought 
to perpetuate the liberties of our country." 

The monument was accepted in a brief speech by John M. Krauth, 
Secretary of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association. 

Three cheers were given at the close of Mr. Krauth's remarks, for 
the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association. 

Adjutant-General Stryker was next introduced by Captain Matthews 
and spoke as follows : 

GENERAL STEYKER'S REMARKS. 

"Comrades — It gives me groat pleasure to meet to-day the 
veterans of one of New Jersey's regiments on this most historic 
battle-field. 

" Six weeks ago I passed over the fields of Spottsylvania and the 
Wilderness, pushed my way through vast cedar tracts, stood on the 
historic grounds of Salem church, entered the famous McCoyle house, 
tramped along the line of the Confederate rifle-pits, stood on the spot 
where the brave Sedgwick fell, leaned over the worm fence at the 
Bloody Angle at Spottsylvania, saw where the brave New Jersey 
troops charged on E well's forces again and again on those eventful 
days. The stillness of an almost deserted country reigned over this 
desolate land, but it was not hard to realize that over these fields vast 
bodies of veterans had lain hidden in the brushwood, and, jumping 
up, had attacked each other boldly. The mementos of the war were 
to be seen on every side. I came away from this field impressed — if 
it were possible for one who had been a participant in the scenes of 
bloody carnage — impressed more and more with the valor of a soldiery 



42 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

who could, day after day, fight over such a desolate country for the 
honor of the flag and for the unity of the Republic. 

" To-day I shall stand with you opposite the stone wall where the 
valorous Pickett charged on Hancock's Union line; I shall clamber 
up with you on Round Top and wander around among the boulders 
in Devil's Den ; and we are here on this spot on Rock creek where 
the brave Jerseymen with their Massachusetts brethren resisted the foe. 

" Memories, no doubt, crowd upon you to-day of the fighting on 
the Hagerstown road near the Dunker church, where your own brave 
Captain Irish fell ; and it needs not, after His Excellency's remarks, 
for me to speak of Chancellorsville and the march to the sea, but 
there was one fight he omitted — the fight at Kenesaw mountain, which 
you can all remember, where young Lieutenant Ryerson, of the very 
best fighting blood of New Jersey, fell mortally wounded. 

"The sweet British poet Cowper, in one of his most beautiful 
stanzas, seems to depict the work in which you are engaged to-day. 
I trust I may be able to repeat it : 

" ' Patriots have toiled, and in their country's cause bled nobly ; 
And their deeds, as they deserve, receive proud recompense. 
The historic muse, proud of her treasure, marches with it down to latest times. 
And sculpture, in her turn, gives bond in stone, and everduring praise to guard it 
and immortalize the trust.' 

" New Jersey has given bond hi stone, and sculpture will to-day 
begin the trust which shall immortalize to latest times the services of 
those who bled nobly, for those who died heroically all through the 
Civil War, under the starry banner of the Thirteenth Jersey." 
[Applause.] 

Captain Matthews next introduced the orator of the day, General 
Henry W. Slocum. 

The oration of General Slocum was one of great interest. It 
abounded in reminiscences of the army and particularly of the 
Twelfth Corps. It was listened to throughout by the large audience 
present with evident satisfaction and delight. 

The exercises closed with a medley of national airs. 



LEGISLATIVE PROVISION 

FOR DEDICATION OF MONUMENTS, 1888. 



It being anticipated that all the monuments would be completed in 
time to be dedicated on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle, the 
Legislature of New Jersey, by an act passed March 7th, 1888 (Pamph. 
Laws, p. 148), directed the Governor, Adjutant-General, Comptroller 
and the Commissioners appointed to erect the monuments to " make and 
carry into effect suitable arrangements for the dedication of the monu- 
ments erected by the State, and for the commemoration of the heroic 
services of New Jersey troops on that field ; they may in their discre- 
tion, in the name of the State, invite all surviving officers and men who 
were actually present at the battle of Gettysburg, attached to New 
Jersey regiments or batteries, to attend the dedicatory exercises upon 
the battle-field, and may provide for the cost of their transportation 
and subsistence ; the Governor is authorized to detail a suitable portion 
of the National Guard to act as an escort to the Governor, State 
officers and veterans, and to use such camp equipage and other prop- 
erty of the State as may be needful for said detail of the National 
Guard, and for the officers and men invited by the State as aforesaid." 
Ten thousand dollars was appropriated to carry out the act. 

The Governor designated ten companies of infantry and a Gatling 
gun company of the National Guard, who were formed into a pro- 
visional regiment under Col. E. L. Campbell, as an escort. Invita- 
tions were issued to the survivors of the battle, and were accepted by 
sixteen hundred officers and men. 

Two camps were established on the Wheat-field at Gettysburg, one 
for the veterans who were the invited guests of the State, under com- 
mand of Col. John Schoonover, of the Eleventh New Jersey Volun- 
teer Infantry, and the other for the provisional regiment. The men 
went into camp June 29th, 1888, and remained for three days. 

DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENTS. 

The dedication exercises were held on Saturday, June 30th, 1888, 
on the battle-field. A stenographic report of the proceedings was 
made, which is below inserted in full. 




Monument to the Sixth Infantry. 

(DEVIL'S DEN.) 



DEDICATION 

OF THE 

NEW JKRSEY IVLONUIVLENTS 

ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF GETTYSBURG, 
JUNE 30th, 1888. 



REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



PRESENT : 

His Excellency Robert S. Green, Governor; Gen. William S. Stryker, Adjutant- 
General; Hon. Edward- J. Anderson, Comptroller of the Treasury; Col. James N. 
Duflfy, Hon. Gottfried Krueger, Hon. William H. Corbin, Brig.-Gen. Bird W. Spencer, 
Brig.-Gen. Jno. D. McGill, Brig.-Gen. J. Watts Kearny, Col. W. F. Abbett, Col. W. 
C. Heppenheimer, Col. Mueller, Col. Snedeker, Col. Harvey, Col. J. C. Owens, Col. 
Walker, Hon. A. F. R. Martin, Hon. Clias. E. Hill, Hon. J. J. Toffey, Hon. Jno. T. 
Van Cleef, Hon. Chas. W. Fuller, Rev. A. A. Haines, Hon. G. T. Cranmer, Hon. Geo. 
H. Large, Col. H. W. Sawyer, Col. Milligan, A. Winter and E. D. Fox. F. W. 
Gnichtel, Stenographer. 

Gettysburg Battle-field, Saturday, June 30th, 1888. 
The Governor, accompanied by the other Commissioners and the 
Governor's Staff and the delegation of the Legislature, left head- 
quarters at 2 p. M. and proceeded to the monument of the Sixth 
Infantry flegiment, near Devil's Den. After the Commissioners had 
unveiled the monument, Colonel Duffy addressed the survivors of 
the regiment, who were gathered about the monument, as follows : 

" Survivors of the Sixth New Jersey Infantry — A short 
address, written by Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen R. Gilkyson, will be 
read, in his absence, by Captain William H. Hemsing, of the Sixth 
Regiment." 

Captain Hemsing then read — 



46 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 



ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT. 

"Fellow Soldiers — We are here to dedicate this monument, 
erected by authority of the State of New Jersey and under the direc- 
tion of the Gettysburg Battle-field Monument Commission, to the 
Sixth Regiment, New Jersey Veteran Infantry Volunteers, who 
fought on this field July 2d, 1863. The Sixth Regiment was organ- 
ized at Trenton, New Jersey. It was mustered into the service of 
the United States August 19th, 1861, and left the State September 
10th, 1861, fully officered and equipped, having 38 officers and 860 
non-commissioned officers and privates, making a total of 898. On 
its arrival at Washington, it was ordered into camp at Meridian Hill, 
near Washington, D. C, with the Fifth Regiment, New Jersey In- 
fantry Volunteers. Upon the arrival of the Seventh and Eighth 
Regiments, the four regiments, namely, the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh 
and Eighth, were brigaded and known as the Second New Jersey 
Brigade, and was assigned to the Third Brigade, Hooker's Division ; 
afterwards it was attached to the Third Brigade, Second Division, 
Third Army Corps, and during the latter part of its service to the 
Second Corps. 

"The regiment participated in all the battles of the Potomac 
Army, except that of Antietam, Maryland, September 17th, 1862. 

" It was first under fire at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, but its 
first actual engagement was at Williamsburg, May 5th, 1862, and the 
last engagement was in the operations before Petersburg, in the latter 
part of August, 1864. 

" On September 7th, 1864, the regiment was mustered out of ser- 
vice at Trenton, New Jersey, with about 200 men, bringing with 
them their battle-scarred colors, which were never dishonored. 

" With very few exceptions, our regimental history is identical 
with that of the brigade. At McClain's Ford, Virginia, October 
15th, 1863, we fought alone and unaided, holding the ford against 
superior numbers of cavalry, and at Mine Run the regiment was 
detailed, by name, to lead the charge as skirmishers. 

"As to this engagement (Gettysburg), a brief narration of the 
movements of our regiment may be of interest. With 345 muskets, 
we were massed, with a portion of the brigade, in what was known as 
the Wheat-field, behind yonder woods ; an order was receiyed to sup- 
port this part of the line, and we were quickly in motion and at a 





Monument to the Eighth Infantry. 
(southerly corner of wheat-field.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 47 

double-quick through the woods, and arriving at this spot, with the 
enemy close at hand, we secured the first fire ; the enemy gave way 
and soon our front was cleared. 

" On two occasions during that day the Sixth Regiment held this 
part of the line, from the woods to the base of Round Top, without 
the aid of a single troop, and was the last of the Third Corps on this 
battle-field. 

" The limitation to five minutes does not allow me to separately 
refer to the thirty battles fought by this regiment, and I have there- 
fore adverted to only a few of the many valorous and heroic deeds of 
the men, and by which the name and fame of the noble Sixth will be 
linked with the hallowed memories of the Rebellion." 



ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE EIGHTH REGIMENT. 

The party then proceeded to the monument of the Eighth Infantry 
Regiment, at the south end of the Wheat-field. The Commissioners 
unveiled the monument, and Colonel Duffy then said : 

" Survivors of the Eighth Regiment — I have the pleasure of 
introducing Geneial John Ramsay, who will make a short address." 

General Ramsay said : 

" Comrades of the Eighth Regiment — How quiet and still the 
scenes are here to-day ! We are surrounded by the quiet scenery that 
Nature provides for the enjoyment of man. The sun shines bright, 
and the atmosphere is clear, the fields are covered with a bed of green, 
and in the air is heard the music of the birds. 

" What a contrast between the quiet scenes of to-day and those that 
occurred here twenty-five years ago. Then we were engaged in a 
struggle for life, and the air filled with the messengers of death. 

" The neighing of war steeds — the tramping of thousands of armed 
men, eager and anxious for the coming struggle ; the heavy, rumbling 
sound of artillery going into position, the galloping across the field of 
mounted officers making rapid arrangements to meet the advancing foe. 

" Presently we hear the sharp sound of the rifles of the skirmishers, 
followed by the rattling noise of musketry by the infantry in line, then 
the roar of artillery and the agonies of the dying and the groans of 



48 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

the wounded — thus, comrades, commences the battle of Gettysburg, 
the greatest of the war. 

" Such was the scene then, and the varying fortunes of the battle 
made those of us who were actors in this tragedy of life a part of the 
shifting scenery. A something that cannot be described and difficult 
to imagine. A scene that is grand and magnificent, yet horrible. 

" There is a little agitation and commotion here to-day, but it is 
such as emanates from the hearts and not from the passions of men. 
It is to commemorate the deeds of valor performed by the men that 
died here in the strife engendered in an hour of passion. 

" We are here to dedicate these beautiful monuments to the memory 
of the brave men who died here that the nation might live. 

" These men died for the safety and perpetuity of the Republic ; 
died that four millions of human beings with their unborn genera- 
tions should be free ; died that a ' government of the people, by the 
people and for the people should not perish from the earth.' 

" The struggle was grand and terrific. The issues involved were 
of the greatest magnitude ever submitted to arbitrament of arms. 

" The result of the battle decided that the Republic was to be saved. 
That this was to be a land of freemen. That the shackles of the 
slaves should be sold for old iron. That the auction block should be 
burned. That all men should breathe the fresh air of heaven direct, 
and not by inhalation from a master. That the people were strong 
and virtuous enough to govern themselves. 

" We are here to-day to do honor to the memory of the heroes who 
fell for these great principles ; to the men whose death gave these 
great blessings to the American people. 

" Could men die, have men ever died, for a better, purer or holier 
cause ? 

" Our form of government is a simple one, and the best on the face 
of the earth ; one that permits of the full exercise of a man's energy 
and abilities ; one that permits of the full development of the gran- 
deur and dignity of man. The American people are great and gen- 
erous. The action of our great Commander at Appomattox, when 
Lee surrendered, saying to those men : ' Go home ; obey the laws 
and this parole will protect you,' was magnanimous and was approved 
by the loyal sentiment of the people. 

" We are making history rapidly, some of it curious and singular, 
of which there is no record, and such that is not possible under any 
form of government except ours. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 49 

" Imagine, if you can, an armed rebellion against the government 
of England, Germany or Russia, and after the suppression of such 
rebellion, that the Queen, the Emperor or the Czar should give to 
the men engaged in the attempt to destroy the government the posi- 
tions of honor and emoluments under it, should commit to their care 
the honor and safety of the nation at home and abroad. Imagine 
such a condition of affairs, if you can ; when you have done so it 
will not be difficult to picture the stormy results of such action. 

" Yet that is the condition of affairs which surrounds us at this 
time. 

" While we are here performing the beautiful ceremonies of the 
occasion in honor of our dead, dedicating these monuments to our 
fallen heroes, to the men that died that the nation might live, who 
gave their lives for the perpetuity of the Republic, and that unborn 
generations might enjoy the blessings of life in a land of real liberty, 
the men who fought against us upon this field are to-day in practical 
possession of the government. They shape our foreign and domestic 
policy ; they represent us at home and abroad ; they have the care 
and custody and the honor and safety of our flag in their keeping. 

" This is one of the recent and singular events in our history. If 
the American people were all lawyers they would protest because 
there are no authorities or precedents for such a thing. But as they 
are not, they make no protest but that allowed by law — go to the box 
and drop the ballot which executes a freeman's will. It shows the 
indifference of the American people to everything except the real or 
apparent danger. It also shows the strength and elasticity of the 
institutions under which we live. 

" I had the honor to command the Eighth Regiment, New Jersey 
Volunteers, upon this field, and was fortunate — or unfortunate — enough 
to stop one of the enemy's bullets. It is certainly a source of grati- 
fication to all the comrades of the regiment who survived this battle 
and the twenty-five years of intervening time, to take part in the 
dedication of these monuments, which are to stand for all time, and 
in commemoration of the gallant services you rendered your country 
here in the hour of its greatest adversity. 

" Comrades, time has made sad havoc in our ranks. It is painful 
to think of the number that in the past quarter of a century have 
become tired and weary of the trials and tribulations of this life and 
have fallen by the wayside, entering the land of everlasting sleep. 

4 



50 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

It cannot be long before we join those wko have gone before. When 
we hear the last morning's reveille admonishing us that ' tattoo ' is to 
follow, and to be prepared for the 'taps' which extinguish the 
candle of our existence ; when we leave this field of strife to join the 
silent majority ' in the land from which no traveler returns,' should 
the spirits of men there become restless, and it is necessary to beat 
the long roll, I want all those who belong to the gallant Eighth Regi- 
ment to respond as they did upon the field at their country's call, 
twenty-five years ago." 

f 

ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF BATTERY B. 

The party next proceeded to the position occupied by Battery B. 
The monument stands in the field south of Trostle's lane, about 150 
yards northeast of the Peach Orchard. 

After the Commissioners had unveiled the monument, Col. Duify 
said : * 

"Survivors of Battery B, First New Jersey Artillery 
— I have the honor to introduce to you Col. A. Judson Clark, who 
will make a short address." 

Col. Clark said : 

" The officer to whom had been assigned the pleasant task of address- 
ing you, is unfortunately absent to-day, and this task devolves upon 
me. While it is a pleasant duty, it is one for which I feel I am not 
prepared. The memories of twenty-five years ago throng through 
our minds, when upon nearly such a day as this we stood upon the 
battle-field here. The scene is a very different one now, and many 
who were with us then are with us no longer. 

" The State has done us honor in erecting this noble tribute to the 
memory of those who fought here, and to show the position which 
was held by our battery at the time this great battle was fought. 

" Battery B was organized in 1861, in Newark ; it was mustered in 
September 3d, at Trenton, and from there went to Washington, and 
received its equipment of guns and horses as a six-gun light battery, 
and reported shortly afterwards to General Heintzelman, and was 
attached to his command. From there we went to the Peninsula, 
where we were assigned to what was then Hooker's division, and the 







fir HEW JEBGui i^ 




Monument to Battery B. 

( TROSTLE'S FIELD, NEAR FEACH ORCHARD.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 51 

troops were then organized. We fought these battles of the Peninsula, 
to Malvern Hill, where Captain Beam, our honored Captain was 
killed in action. He was a noble man, a good soldier, a grand man, 
a glorious Christian gentleman. We will never cease to mourn his 
death. From that time the command devolved upon me. After our 
fights upon the Peninsula we proceeded to Washington, but were 
unfortunately too late to take part in the battle of Antietam, and the 
Second Bull Run. With those exceptions the battery fought through 
all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, up to its close, and 
was the last battery in position at the time of the surrender at Appo- 
mattox. 

" Our position here is marked by this monument, which stands 
about the center of where we stood during the battle. The enemy's 
line of batteries extended on yonder crest. [Colonel Clark pointed 
to a crest near by, in a southerly direction.] We came here into that 
position in the early part of the afternoon of July 2d. Our first 
position was just to the right, where we fired a few shots upon the 
enemy's line to feel his position. Shortly afterwards a battery opened 
upon us and we moved to this position and replied. They opened 
upon us, not with one battery, but with forty guns, and the position 
of course would soon have become untenable, we would have been 
swept from the ground if their range had been good, but for the 
bringing in of McGilvery's brigade under General Hunt from the 
reserve of the artillery, which drew their fire. After a terrible can- 
nonade directed against our front and our right, from a line of guns 
through here [pointing to the south], evidently with the intention of 
making an assault, the assaulting columns, which were moving 
towards our front, came across here for the purpose of attacking 
ing Round Top, and turning the left of the position which our troops 
held. 

" You remember the fire of those forces and our endeavor to break 
this assaulting column, which we did repeatedly, and continued in our 
efforts here until our ammunition was nearly exhausted, with the 
exception of a few shots, when we were compelled to retire with a loss 
which is stated on the monument to be 1 killed, 16 wounded and 3 
missing. The loss properly was 2 killed and 1 died right after the 
fight, 15 wounded and 2 missing; one of the missing men was killed. 

" The lesson which this great battle taught us has not been lost. 
The loyalty and devotion shown by the New Jersey troops then will 



52 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

be shown at any time in the future, should occasion require it, but our 
devotion to our country lies not only in fighting great battles, but in 
our being good citizens and soldiers. Let us not forget the lesson we 
have learned, and let us be ready at all times to do our duty as citizens 
of our grand and glorious State, as well as citizens of one of the 
grandest and most glorious governments in the world." [Loud 
applause.] 

ADDKESS ON BEHALF OF THE SEVENTH EEGIMENT. 

The party then proceeded to the Seventh Regiment monument, in 
the field south of Trostle's lane, about 200 yards northeast of the 
Peach Orchard. After the Commissioners had unveiled the monu- 
ment. Colonel Duffy said : 

" Survivors of the Seventh Regiment — I have the honor 
to introduce to you Sergeant Edward F. McDonald, who will make a 
short address. 

Sergeant McDonald said : 

" Your Excellency, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen — 
We meet upon this great occasion to commemorate what was perhaps 
the greatest event in the history of our Republic — the victory won 
during the great struggle for the preservation of our Union and its 
flag upon the field on which we stand to-day. 

" Here it was the tide of the foe's invasion was checked and turned 
back, and had it not been for what was here and then accomplished, 
we know not what our condition might have been to-day. It was an 
event of great importance not only to the people of this Republic, 
but also to the downtrodden and oppressed of all nations who here 
may seek and find a home. 

" Twenty-five years have passed, but the recollection of that great 
day has not faded from our memories ; particularly those who passed 
through the trying scene. 

" But it is not for the purpose of celebrating the victory, it is not as 
victors gloating over the vanquished, that we are here to-day ; we are 
here to commemorate the patriotism and bravery, the zeal and 
devotion, of true American citizens to their country and its flag, in 
defense of which they died. [Great applause.] 

" We who fought for the preservation of the Union fought to pre- 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 53 

serve it not for ourselves alone, but just as much for the brave foes 
we vanquished; for our States to-day are their States, and their 
States are ours. Toward them we have no ill-will, but commemorate 
events in the great struggle in order that those who come after us 
may know and understand that our republican form of government 
is no experiment, and that those who would seek to assail its stability 
will be met by its brave defenders in the future as they have been in 
the past. [Great applause.] For there is one something greater and 
grander than the memory of the victory won upon this field ; some- 
thing greater than any recollection of the strife ; that is, the fact, to 
the glory of our country be it said, that since that war was over not 
one drop of blood has been shed in animosity or revenge ; for the 
same liberty-loving spirit that gave freedom to the slave humanely 
gave pardon and amnesty to our fallen foe. Our glorious flag came 
out unsullied and without dishonor, and it floats to-day over the vic- 
torious and the vanquished alike, and to-day they stand ready and 
united to defend it in the future. [Applause.] 

" We are proud to-day, those of us who survive of the gallant old 
Seventh New Jersey and the old Second Brigade, that it was given to 
us under the will of Providence to be part and parcel of the glorious 
history of our regiment and brigade that so nobly upheld tke honor 
of their State and proved so true to the cause in which they fought. 
In conclusion I need hardly say that time is limited. Much more 
might be said, but to do so would be in violation of courtesy and 
good taste ; I therefore limit what I have to say to the few words in 
which I have indulged. We thank the State, we thank its Commis- 
sioners and our Governor for their presence here to-day, and on behalf 
of our gallant soldiers thank them also most sincerely for the beauti- 
ful monument erected to the memory of our dead comrades." [Loud 
and long-continued applause.] 

ADDKESS ON BEHALF OF THE ELEVEJTTH KEGIMENT. 

The party next proceeded to the Eleventh Regiment position, on 
the east side of Emmittsburg road, south of the Smith house. After 
the Commissioners had unveiled the monument. Col. Duffy said : 

" Survivors op the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers — 
I have the honor of introducing Col. John Schoonover, who will 
make a short address." 



64 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

Col. Schoonover said : 

"Your Excellency Gov. Green and Surviving Comrades 
— I rejoice with you to-day that so many of us, after the lapse of a 
quarter of a century, have been permitted to assemble upon this his- 
toric field to participate in the dedication of this beautiful monument 
erected by our State, not only to commemorate the valor and the patriot- 
ism of those who died in their country's defense, but to aid in impress- 
ing upon the minds of the living the fearful cost of maintaining its 
unity. 

" The Eleventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, left Trenton 
August 25th, 1862, and reported at Washington -the following day. 
It remained near Alexandria, Virginia, and performed various camp 
duties until the 16th day of November, when it was attached to the 
brigade of Gen. Carr, Sickles' division, and entered upon active duty 
with the Army of the Potomac. 

" Neither the time nor the location proved favorable to the health 
of the men, and when the regiment took up its march for Fredericks- 
burg 4 commissioned officers and 215 enlisted men were left behind 
upon the sick list. 

" Our first experience under fire was at Fredericksburg, with Burn- 
side, and cost us two men killed and five wounded. When the Elev- 
enth Regiment left for the field it was followed by no prophecies of 
a brilliant future — in fact, it was often spoken of as a regiment of 
boys ; but the opportunity soon arrived which enabled them to prove 
that though age and stature might be wanting, they possessed quali- 
ties which amply compensated for both. 

" It went into the battle of Chancellorsville with 500 men and sus- 
tained a loss of 192. 

"Two officers and 33 enlisted men were killed, 19 were left dead 
upon the field of battle and 12 died of wounds a short time after. 
Sickness near Alexandria and the heavy losses in the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville had so decimated our ranks that when we reached the 
battle-field of Gettysburg we numbered but 275 men. 

" Near the spot upon which we now stand the regiment took up 
its position on that eventful afternoon of July 2d, 1863. About 3 
o'clock the enemy opened with artillery. For an hour or more the 
earth trembled with the jar of guns, and tons of metal were hurled 
over and fell around us. At this time our right was resting just in 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 55 

rear of the Smith house, over there, the line extending down through 
the orchard, the left being under the brow of the hill. 

" Major Kearny, who was standing near me on the left of the regi- 
ment excitedly exclaimed : ' We are going to have a fight.' A 
moment later he was mortally wounded and carried to the rear. We 
were now receiving a fire from Wilcox's brigade from beyond the 
Emmittsburg pike, and from Barksdale's brigade, which was advanc- 
ing in full view just down by the road which leads to Little Round 
Top. 

" I then passed rapidly to the right of the regiment to notify the 
Colonel of the absence of the Major, and learned that he too had 
been wounded and" taken to the rear. Captain Martin, the senior 
officer present, was then notified that he was in command of the 
regiment. At this time an order was received from General Carr to 
slightly change the front by bringing the left to the rear. This was 
to check the advance of Barksdale's brigade, now in full view in the 
field beyond. 

"This movement being executed the entire regiment opened an 
effective fire upon the advancing line of the enemy. At this point 
word was conveyed to me that both Captains Martin and Logan were 
wounded and being carried to the rear. A moment later and Captain 
Ackerman fell dead by my side. The two former were killed before 
they reached a place of safety. 

"Barksdale, mounted on a spirited horse, was now riding some 
distance in advance of his brigade, waving his sword and urging his 
men forward. An order was received from General Carr to ' bring 
down that mounted officer.' Captain Cory, who is with us to-day, 
commanded the company on the extreme left of the regiment, and the 
execution of the order was committed to him and his command. 
Barksdale fell, and the Rebel army did not have among its losses a 
braver man than he who on July 2d, 1863, led his brigade in their 
gallant charge down through these fields to our left. 

" The fire of the enemy at this time was perfectly terrific ; men 
were falling on every side. Slowly and stubbornly the regiment fell 
back, keeping up a continuous fire. 

" Two color-bearers had been shot down, and as a last effort to rally 
what remained of the regiment, Corporal Johnson was ordered to 
take the colors, plant them twenty yards to the front, and not to leave 
his position without orders. Amidst the confusion and retreat he was 



56 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

almost forgotten. I hastened back, apd Johnson was still there, with 
his guard standing like statues amidst the shower of shot and shell 
falling around them. 

'* But how fared the regiment all this time ? Lines cut in imperish- 
able granite, upon the monument which marks this sacred spot, is the 
record which it submits to posterity, of the part it took to stem the 
advancing tide of rebellion on the afternoon of July 2d, 1863. Out 
of 275 men taken into the fight, 152 had fallen, including every com- 
missioned officer above the rank of Lieutenant. 

"My time is too limited to give you a detailed history of our 
organization, but I wish to say that the regiment took part in all the 
subsequent battles of the Army of the Potomac. Its losses were 
heavy at Spottsylvania — Captain Sleeper, Adjutant Baldwin and 
Lieutenant Egan being among the killed. 

" Forty fell at Locust Grove, and at the first attack upon Peters- 
burg, where Captain Layton fell, we lost forty-four. 

" New Jersey may well be proud of the record which her soldiers 
made in the War of the Rebellion, and as a member of the Eleventh 
Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, one who was with it from the time 
it first set foot upon Virginia soil until the final close at Appomattox, 
I do not hesitate to say that it bore well its part in the grandest army 
that ever struck for liberty, nationality, and the rights of man." 

ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE FIFTH EEGIMENT. 

The party next proceeded to the site of the monument of the Fifth 
Infantry, on the west side of Emmittsburg road, south of the Roger 
house. After the Commissioners had unveiled the monument, Col- 
onel Duffy said : 

"SUEVIVOES OF THE FiFTH InFANTRY ReGIMENT, NeW JeESEY 

VoLUNTEEES — I havc the honor of introducing General James F. 
Rusling, who will make a short address." 

General Rusling then said : 

"Comrades and Fellow-Citizens — I stand here to-day to 
speak a word or two for the Fifth New Jersey — my own dear old 
regiment. What shall I not say of her here to-day, or rather what 
might I not say for her, did time suffice ? To begin with, let me 




Monument to Fifth Infantry. 

(emmittsburq road.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 57 

state the striking fact that appears upon the very surface of her his- 
tory, that she produced six Brigadier-Generals, while the average of 
other Union regiments was only one or two. Next let me say that 
she left New Jersey in August, 1861, with 861 officers and men — not 
drafted men, but volunteers — the very flower of the young men of 
New Jersey ; afterwards she gained by recruits 911 more, and yet in 
November, 1864, when mustered out, she had only 200 left. That is 
to say, out of a total of 1,722 officers and men, first and last, some- 
where, somehow, she lost 1,522. 

" Now, that fact alone, I submit, speaks volumes for the Fifth New 
Jersey, and is more eloquent of her patriotism and heroism, her valor, 
her fortitude, her sufferings, than any poor words I can hope to utter 
here to-day. Why, first and last, the gallant old regiment — God 
bless her ! — participated in 32 pitched battles or sharp engagements, 
everywhere covering herself and the State with imperishable renown, 
everywhere maintaining the best traditions of the Jersey Blues, and 
her history to-day is simply the superb history of the Army of 
the Potomac, from Yorktown to Gettysburg, from Gettysburg to 
Petersburg. 

" Here at Gettysburg the Fifth New Jersey reached the field about 
10 A. M., July 2d, 1863, after a rapid march from Emmittsburg, 
about 200 strong, and immediately went into position here on the left 
of the army, with the rest of the Third Corps, to confront the vete- 
rans of Longstreet and Hood. About 4 p. m. the regiment was 
ordered forward to support Seeley's Battery of Regulars (K, 4, U. 
S. Art.), a little south of the Apple Orchard; about 5 p. m. she 
became actively engaged, and, raked by a terrific fire of. musketry 
and artillery, 'cannon to the right of her, cannon to the left of 
her,' by nightfall she suffered a total loss of 94 officers and men, or 
nearly 50 per cent, of her whole number engaged. On the 3d, 
though often under fire, she suffered no casualties. But her brigade, 
division and corps commanders, in their official reports, all awarded 
her the very highest credit for her conduct here, and especially com- 
mended her for her gallantry and steadiness under fire. 

"Among the severely wounded on the 2d here was her gallant 
Colonel (Sewell), whom we rejoice to see with us to-day yet hale and 
hearty, who has since served the State conspicuously elsewhere, a 
typical soldier and representative Jerseyman, a true friend and gen- 
erous foe. God grant him length of days and higher honors yet to 
come. 



58 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

" On a day like this at Gettysburg it behooves us to inquire briefly 
what was it that our fellow-Jerseymen and comrades from other 
States here fought and died for ? Surely it was not for themselves 
alone, nor was it from any vulgar love of conquest, nor for any royal 
house or dynasty. No ! They stood here for fair play and freedom 
for all, or, as Abraham Lincoln once happily expressed it ; * In 
order that every man might have a fair start and an equal chance in 
the race of life, however poor or however humble/ They fought not 
for the North alone, but for the South also, to save her from her own 
supreme wickedness and folly, as the New South now concedes. Nay^ 
they fought not for America alone, but for mankind here and every- 
where ; for every shot they fired, every drop of blood they shed, was 
equally for the cause of humanity and God, here and everywhere, the 
broad continent across and the wide world over. And to-day, by 
virtue of their toils and their sacrifices, not only does the Union stand 
one and indivisible from sea to sea, without a foe to oppose her, 
resplendent in her spotless robes of liberty and justice, with the smile 
of Heaven upon her brow, and the broken chains of four millions of 
human beings beneath her feet, but cheered and inspired by our 
example, the cause of human freedom everywhere throughout the 
world rises higher and still higher. As Greece had her Thermopylae 
and Marathon, so we have our Lexington and Bunker Hill, our 
Trenton and Gettysburg, and history will declare all alike memorable 
forever, as milestones along the golden road of human progress. 

" Hence, I say here to-day, thanks be unto God for Gettysburg, 
costly though it was. Hence, New Jersey comes here to-day, in her 
representative capacity, with her Chief Magistrate and high ofificers 
of State, with her surviving veterans and National Guard, to dedicate 
those stately monuments tenderly and reverently, and to honor and 
commemorate as best she may her gallant sons who here cheerfully 
laid down their lives that the Republic might live. In a larger sense 
she cannot honor, she need not commemorate them ; for by their 
deeds here upon this battle-field they honored themselves, and to- 
day— 

" 'On Fame's eternal camping-ground 
Their silent tents are spread, 
And Glory guards with solemn round 
The bivouac of the dead.' 

" But, as our mother Commonwealth, by her action here this day 
she can teach her citizens and the coming generations what Gettysburg 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 59 

was and is (how it stands, and will ever stand, for patriotism, for 
manhood, for duty), and bid us one and all swear a new perpetual 
allegiance to the holy cause for which our comrades here fought and 
fell. 

" ' Tender and loving the hot tears flow, 
For these loyal and kindly hearts laid low ; 
But ever calm and sweet be the sleep 
Of them whom God and the angels keep.' 

" And so now, O ye Jerseymen who sleep here at Gettysburg, good 
friends, brave hearts, generous souls, hail and farewell ! 

"As for us who remain standing here to-day by these patriot 
graves, on this historic field, from this hallowed spot let us one and 
all send aloft the reverent, common prayer of all true Americans, so 
well expressed in those fine lines of the poet Whittier : 

" ' Our fathers' God, from out whose hand 
The centuries fall like grains of sand, 
O make Thou us, through ages long, 
In Peace secure, in Justice strong ; 
Around our gift of Freedom draw 
The safeguards of Thy righteous law ; 
And cast in some diviner mould, 
Let the new cycle^hame the old.' 

"And let us, now and here, one and all, register anew a solemn 
vow in Heaven that — 

" ' What God in His infinite wisdom hath planned, 

And armed with His weapon of thunder. 
Not all of earth's traitors and tyrants combined 

Shall ever conquer or sunder. 
O, our union of lakes, our union of lands. 

Our union of States, let none sever ; 
Here's to the union of hearts, the union of hands 

And the flag of the Union forever ! ' " 

[Applause.] 

Calls being made for General William J. Sewell, who commanded 
the regiment in the battle, he spoke as follows : 

ADDKESS OF GENERAL SEWELL. 

" But five minutes was allowed to each regiment for the dedication 
of its monuments. General Rusling has already consumed that time, 



60 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

and I do not wish to delay the Governor and his party, but I cannot 
withstand the appeals from my comrades of the old Fifth, who stood 
by me on this field where we now stand. You well remember when 
we formed on that line, when fifty per cent, of our command bit the 
dust, when we stood shoulder to shoulder, as we did at Williamsburg, 
at Seven Pines, at all the battles of the Peninsula, and as we did at 
the Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and when 
we came here marching through what was our own ground, the States 
of the North, we felt as though we were on our native soil, and noth- 
ing but death itself could stand in the way of our victory. 

" This was not a fight of strategy and tactics ; it was the determi- 
nation on the part of the men of the line that here was their country 
invaded by the enemy, and here they should stand, and here they 
should die if necessary. 

" Through the providence of God the valor of the North prevailed, 
and here we stood, and the result was the same as General Rusling 
has stated. 

" Greece had her Thermopylae and Marathon, and as the battle of 
Waterloo decided the fate of Europe for a hundred years, so Gettys- 
burg decided the fate of this country for the next hundred years." 
[Applause.] 

The party next proceeded to the monument of the Twelfth Infantry, 
near Ziegler's grove, where a short halt was made, and the monument 
inspected,* after which they proceeded southward to the Battery A 
monument, which was unveiled by the Commissioners. After a brief 
halt the Governor led the way to the Brigade monument, on the 
Weikert farm, north of Little Round Top, where the provisional 
regiment of the National Guard of New Jersey, under Colonel Camp- 
bell, were drawn up in line facing the monument. Here the veterans 
of the different commands were also assembled, besides a great con- 
course of citizens. 

The Governor of Pennsylvania, with his military staff, in uniform, 
and the officers of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association 
were present to receive the Governor of New Jersey and the Commis- 
sioners from New Jersey. Many veteran officers from different States 
were also present. The Confederate General Longstreet, being espied 
in the throng while the assembly were awaiting the arrival of the 



*This monument was dedicated May 26th, 1886. 




Medallion on East Face of Brigade Monument. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 61 

New Jersey officials, was loudly cheered by the veteran "boys in 
blue," and after repeated calls came forward upon the platform and 
made a brief address expressing his thanks for the kindly reception 
accorded to him and his gratification in being present. His remarks 
were received with great enthusiasm. 

After the Governor of New Jersey, and those accompanying him, 
had taken seats upon the platform, the further formal exercises were 
proceeded with. 

- UNVEILING OF THE BRIGADE MONUMENT. 
Col. Duffy's remarks : 

" Ladies and Gentlemen — By the courtesy of my colleagues I 
have the honor of calling this assemblage to order. Commissioned 
by the State of New Jersey to erect monuments that for all coming 
time shall mark the positions held by her citizens on this field, we 
have been authorized to invite your presence here to-day for the pur- 
pose of dedicating the monuments, and I assure you I express but the 
unanimous feeling of my associates when I say that we are gratified 
by your presence, and particularly are we gratified by such a distin- 
guished representation of the National Guard of our State, both of 
the present day and of the days that made this field historic. Of the 
present day in the person of its distinguished Commander-in-Chief, 
Governor Green, his next in command, Major-General Plume, the 
general officers. Generals Sewell and Steele, with the official and per- 
sonal staff of each ; and of the days that made this field historic in 
the persons of such a large representation of the survivors of the 
commands that in those memorable days stood here and hereabouts. 

" Commencing the regular order of exercises for this occasion, I 
have the honor to introduce Chaplain Alanson A. Haines, late Chap- 
lain of the Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry Regiment, who will offer 



prayer." 



INVOCATION BY REV. ALANSON A. HAINES. 



" Let us unite in prayer. O Lord, Thou art God ; Thou art our 
fathers' God, and we would praise Thee. Thou art our God, and we 
would exalt Thy name. Thou hast been favorable to our land; 
Thou hast not dealt so with any people. 

" "We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, 



62 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

what work Thou didst in their days, in the time of old, how Thou 
didst drive out the heathen with Thy hand and plantedst them. 

" We rejoice to-day that America is the land of our birth and owr 
home, and for every token of goodness which Thou hast shown to 
our nation. We gratefully acknowledge Thy kindness in giving us a 
country so great and wide, stretching from ocean to ocean, for the 
abode of happy millions. The lines have fallen unto us in pleasant 
places and we have a goodly heritage. 

" We rejoice in the character of the men who settled these shores, 
fought the battles of the Revolution, and framed our Constitution ; that 
they were illustrious in patriotism, fearless in liberty and devoted in 
piety. Teach us to emulate their virtues, and maintain the love of 
freedom and devotion to right which characterized them. 

" We thank Thee that this is a nation that may govern itself; that 
we have no feudal system to oppress and weigh down the people. 
We thank Thee that the people have the government in their own 
hands and may decide the laws by which they are governed, and that 
they may choose the officers who are to execute those laws. Grant 
that the exercise of this freedom may be for the interests of our nation 
and for the preservation of these precious things bequeathed to us. 
We ask Thy blessing upon the President af these United States, and 
all associated in authority with him ; upon the Governor of New 
Jersey and the State officers, and upon the Governor of this State of 
Pennsylvania. Grant that all our rulers may rule in Thy fear ; that 
they may have grace and wisdom to discharge their responsible duties 
as shall best be for the interests of this people and for the glory of 
God. 

" Let Thy blessing be upon the solemnities of this day. We come 
here to unveil these various monuments. In the name of our God will 
we set up our banners, and in the name of our God will we dedicate 
these monuments. They commemorate the dead who have passed 
away, who fought on this battle-field so nobly, and who gave up their 
lives as sacrifices to the great cause of freedom and of union ; but 
these monuments also stand here to testify to the goodness of God, 
the Ruler of all things, and who made this the beginning of the end 
of the war, a war which has united us together as one people more 
thoroughly than ever before. 

" We rejoice that the contest ended with our Union unbroken, that 
to-day one flag waves over all our States, and that it was not only for 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 63 

the good of the Northern people, but for the benefit of the Southern 
also, that the war terminated as it did ; and to Thy name will we 
give praise for all this. 

" We ask Thy blessing upon the veteran soldiers. Grant that those 
who survive may long enjoy the peace their valor won. And we pray 
for our citizen soldiers, for the young men of our land, that they 
may have the true spirit of patriotism and be ready at their country's 
call, in any hour of need, to go forth to meet the foe, whether intestine 
or foreign. But O forbid that there should ever again be heard the 
tramp of hostile armies in these States, when one section shall be 
arrayed against another. And if it please Thee, may we have no 
wars with foreign nations, but we ask that the time may be hastened 
when there shall be war no more. 

" We ask that our nation should fulfill her great mission, and feel 
that she is placed here on earth, not only to be true to herself but to 
the interests of humanity. May our example and history and the 
knowledge of our freedom reach the nations who suffer from oppres- 
sion, that they may throw off every yoke, and rejoice with us in all 
these privileges which Thou hast bestowed upon our people. 

" O God, be in covenant with us. We acknowledge no human 
sovereign, but do Thou rule over us. Help us by deliberate choice to 
take Jesus Christ, Thy Son, to be our King. Then shall we be the 
nation whom the God hath blest, and shall expect the preservation of 
our Union and liberty to the latest generation, and as long as the 
world shall stand shall we advance in power and usefulness. 

"And now, direct us in all the services of to-day, and let them 
inspire us with a spirit of consecration and devotion for our country, 
and may the results from to-day go forth to make our people more 
closely united than ever before — one nation, serving the God of 
Heaven. We ask Thee to hear our prayer, for the sake of Jesus 
Christ, Thy Son, and then shall we render our praises to the Father, 
Son and Holy Ghost. Amen." 

The Commissioners then unveiled the monument, and a national 
salute was fired by the gun squad attached to the provisional regiment 
under Colonel Campbell. 

Col, Duffy — " I have the honor of introducing to you the orator 
of this occasion, His Excellency the Governor of New Jersey." 



64 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

GOVERNOE GREEN'S ORATION. 

"Col. Duffy aud Gentlemen of the Commission — I feel 
that the occasion of the last unveiling of the monuments which have 
been erected under your supervision and care, should not be allowed 
to go by without expressing to you the appreciation of the citizens of 
the State for the taste and judgment which have been displayed by 
you in the selection and placing of these memorials. 

" Gov. Beaver, Survivors of the New Jersey Regiments, 
Members of the National Guard, Fellow-Citizens, Ladies 
AND Gentlemen — New Jersey dedicates these imperishable tributes 
to the memory of her gallant organizations which signalized her 
devotion to the unity of the nation. 

" They testify not only of the valor of her soldiers on this historic 
field, but of their heroism throughout the war. 

" They recall not only Gettysburg, but the Peninsula, from York- 
town to Malvern Hill, Bull Run and Antietam, Fredericksburg 
and Chancellorsville, Spottsylvania and the Wilderness, Petersburg 
and the James, Atlanta and the March to the Sea. 

" Twenty-five years ago to-day, the Union was passing through the 
period of its greatest peril. Grant still thundered at the entrench- 
ments of Vicksburg ; flushed with its successes at Fredericksburg and 
Chancellorsville, the Rebel Army invaded this grand old State of 
Pennsylvania, and levied tribute on the fertile fields and prosperous 
towns of the Cumberland Valley. With no troops to oppose them, 
their movement was a victorious march. Panic and consternation 
seized the inhabitants, and loyal cities and States seemed to be in 
jeopardy. 

" But the Army of the Potomac was still intact ; though its regi- 
ments were decimated, its spirit was undaunted, its discipline perfect, 
its endurance untiring, its valor heroic. 

" Gen. Meade was called to its command on the twenty-eighth day 
of June, and continued the pursuit of the victorious army of Gen, 
Lee. 

" Here both forces were concentrated, and for three days the battle 
raged with varying promises of success. For three days each point 
of vantage-ground was the scene of charge and counter-charge. For 
three days these hills and woods reverberated with the roar of 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 65 

artillery and rang with the rattle of musketry, until at last the flag 
of the Union floated in final and assured triumph [applause], and the 
invading army, broken and defeated, was driven across the Potomac. 
From that time, never again was the tramp of rebellion in hostile 
ranks heard upon loyal soil. [Continued applause.] 

" The part taken in the battle by the individual New Jersey organi- 
zations has been and will be depicted more graphically than is in my 
power, by those who were actually here. 

" On this spot, fitly termed ' The High- Water Mark of the Rebel- 
lion,' we dedicate these monuments to those of our organizations 
which nobly bore their part in the battle. 

" What memories cluster around these monumental stones ; what 
glorious deeds of heroism do they each recall ; what a host of names 
of gallant men each marshals up from the buried past ! 

" Beautiful and impressive, and almost sacred as is this office which, 
they discharge, there is another and most important mission which 
they will perform. The reader of history, in the fascination which 
enchains him in the details of battle — the stories of personal prowess, 
the manceuvers of troops, the glitter and 'the glory of the crash of 
arms — is apt to lose sight of the object or impelling cause of the con- 
test. Be it that other duty of these monuments ever to teach the 
lesson and object of the war. 

" It was a war of principle ; it bore in its issue the problem of self- 
government; on its result depended the question whether a nation 
composed of separate States, each sovereign as to its own affairs, could 
endure; whether the free and liberal system, founded on the will of 
the governed, inaugurated by the sages and patriots of the Revolution, 
which had commanded the admiration of the world, and under which 
the nation had defended itself against attack and insult from without 
and had advanced to prosperity and glory, was strong enough to 
maintain its integrity and autonomy against internal dissension and 
armed rebellion. 

" The crisis was momentous ; the struggle terrific; the sacrifice of 
life appalling ; the cost phenomenal, but the ultimate success was com- 
plete and glorious. From this battle-field, onward, the cause of the 
Union marched triumphantly. Vicksburg fell, and Sherman in the 
West, and Grant and Sheridan in the East, with their armies, settled 
forever and for aye, the question of the indissolubility of the Union. 
[Continued applause.] 



66 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

" And how wonderful the results which followed ! The war 
over, how beautifully did the characteristics of American citizen- 
ship and the symmetry of our complex system and its adaptability 
under all contingencies, assert themselves ! Peace, with that heaven- 
inspired sentiment of the immortal Lincoln, ' with malice toward 
none, with charity for all,' upon its wings, settled over the land; 
the voice of war was stilled, and the soldier returned to his fireside 
and to his accustomed occupation. Each State in rebellion renewing 
its allegiance to the government, resumed its relations to the Union, 
with no privilege lessened, no power restricted, no right impaired. 

States 'dissevered, discordant, belligerent,' became again united, 
fraternal and peaceful. A quarter of a century has rolled away and 
the nation is free, prosperous and happy. Regenerated by the strife 
of civil war, disenthralled from the cause which excited sectional 
distrust, every State in allegiance, each true to its duties, the Old 
North, with its resistless energy, its prosperous industries, its match- 
less development ; the Young West, with its busy and rapidly-increas- 
ing population, its fertile prairies, whose prolific acres can annually 
fill the granaries of the world, and whose mines of precious minerals 
rival the stories of poesy and of fable ; the New South, its energies 
no longer shackled with the fetters of the slave, devoting its industry 
to the development of its own resources, inviting capital and skill and 
enterprise from every quarter, lighting up the furnace and the forge 
with its own coal, at its own mines, and starting the hum of its own 
spindles, with its own power, among its own cotton-fields, with no 
sectionalism to excite animosity, with no contest except a generous 
rivalry, with no diverse interests to retard improvement, bound to- 
gether with sincere affection, loyal to the flag and the government — 
a nation of sister States with one aim, one hope, one destiny — JSsto 
perpetua ! [Long-continued applause.] 

" While I yield to no one in the earnest desire and hope that every 
trace of sectional hate, distrust and jealousy may be forever ob- 
literated, and that these States may be forever united in fraternal 
love, I do not want that the day will ever come when the lesson of 
the war shall be forgotten. Teach it to the children and to the 
children's children, and let these monuments, as they stand upon this 
battle-field, in all their beauty, solidity and effectiveness, repeat the 
lesson in the far-off years, that these sacrifices established that this 
Union cannot be dissolved [applause], and that the National Govern- 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 67 

ment is, under the Constitution, supreme. [Applause, loud and long 
<;ontinued, followed by three cheers for Governor Green.] 

" Governor Beaver, it now becomes my pleasant duty to transfer 
these monuments, which New Jersey has erected upon the soil of 
Pennsylvania, into your keeping, as the representative of the State 
and as the President of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial 
Association." 

General James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania, came for- 
ward, leaning upon his crutches. He was received with great ap- 
plause, particularly by the veteran soldiers.* 



ADDKESS OF GOVERNOE BEAVER. 

"Mr. Chairman, Governor Green and Citizens of New 
Jersey — You are our neighbors ; more than that, you are our own 
kith and kin. Your traditions are to some extent our traditions. 
Your history is in a measure our history. We are separated by a 
narrow river. Our interests are much the same ; our aims are equally 
high. You touch elbows with us, and we glory in your prosperity 
and in all that has made you great. [Applause.] 

" We welcome you here to Pennsylvania to-day, as you come upon 
your holy mission. We give you cordial 'greeting as you gather on 
this historic field to perpetuate the memory of the men who died here 
and the achievements of the men, dead and living, who fought here. 
We congratulate New Jersey upon her munificence in providing for 
the erection of these monuments. We congratulate you upon her 
thoughtfulness in providing transportation for 1,600 of the old boys, 
who live largely in the past [applause], and also for the regiment of 
National Guard, whose hopes are in the future. The old fellows 
come here to sit down upon the rocks around which they fought and 
behind which they sheltered themselves. [Great and long- continued 
laughter.] 

" Why, some of these old fellows who were not at the fight laugh 
as if that were not the thing to do. You fellows who were there 
know what that means. It was the proper thing, and the most natu- 
ral thing in the world. [Laughter.] 



* General Beaver lost a leg in the War of the Rebellion, in which war he served 
vrith much bravery and distinction. 



68 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

" You come here to sit upon those rocks, to put your arms around^ 
each other's necks, and to say to each other, 'Don't you mind?'^ 
That is what brings you here, that is what you enjoy, and that is 
what you will enjoy for the days to come. New Jersey has been 
thoughtful and has spent her money well, for she has given you a 
chance to do it. I have seen nothing in the history of this battle- 
field, nor in all the assemblages I have attended, that has given me 
so much of real pleasure and touched me so deeply as this fact — that 
New Jersey has brought you here and has said to you, ' Boys, we 
want you to have a good time for three days.' It is fitting that it 
should be so. It is fitting that you should recall the scenes and inci- 
dents in which you took part, and which have made this field not only 
historic, but have made it immortal — immortal not only for the people 
of this land, but for all lands. For let me say to you that this battle- 
field in these days, and those to come — aye, in the centuries to come, 
because New Jersey erects her monuments, and because every State 
whose troops were engaged in enforcing the law and in maintaining the 
Constitution will erect monuments — this battle-field, I say, can be 
made capable of study, so that the military students of the Old World 
will come here to study the grandest strategy of the greatest war of 
which history has knowledge. We are proud in the possession of 
such a battle-field, won in such a cause, and we are also proud because 
these States are making it a field that can be the study and which 
will make it a lesson not only, to our children, of the patriotism that 
inspired the men who fought here, but also of the genius which our 
Generals displayed when they set our squadrons in the field, and met 
that grandest charge of the war which assaulted our front. [Great 
applause.] 

" We welcome you here, because your presence shows that the 
memories of a quarter of a century have not faded out; that the 
patriotism which inspired you and those who fought with you is as 
pure, and as true, and as lasting to-day as that which inspired you 
when you were here before. And therefore it seems to me that this 
gathering is worthy of note, and that we of Pennsylvania, and of 
New Jersey, and of Wisconsin, and of New York, and also of the 
other States, who have gathered here to-day, may well congratulate 
ourselves that our citizens are true tothe old flag, and to all that it 
symbolized in the past. 

" But, my comrades, we have had a strange scene here to-day, on. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. G9 

this platform. The man who organized and gave directions to Pickett 
when he made his charge has been here to grasp hands with the men 
who met that charge and repulsed it, and he has expressed to you his 
gratification at being here. What does that mean ? Why, it means 
that this old flag not only symbolizes all that we held to be true and 
right in the conflict, but that the men who attacked it, the men who 
fired upon it, the men who made the assault upon it — the men who 
were wrong, and yet felt they were right — those men are with us 
to-day, and are saying, ' God bless the stars and stripes, which cover 
us and ours as well as cover you and yours ! We submit to the arbit- 
rament of the sword. The sword decided us, and we accept the 
result.' When men come with these sentiments upon their lips and 
in their hearts, we may well congratulate ourselves upon the work of 
a quarter of a century which is behind us, and we may well look for- 
ward to the future of this country, when the North and South, East 
and West, will vie with each other in devotion to the flag and to all 
that is symbolized by it. 

** Mr. Chairman, Governor Green, we accept these monuments you 
have reared, in behalf of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Asso- 
ciation. You have made a magnificent tribute to the beauty and the 
utility of this field. You have done much to make it what it is to 
be and what it ought to be. We recognize the value of your contri- 
butions. We pledge you that they shall be cared for. We pledge 
you that they shall teach their lessons, so far as we can enable them 
to do it, and help to make them do it to the latest generation. And 
we pledge you that the soil of Pennsylvania shall always be sacred to 
the memory of those who died and the heroism of those who live, 
and that, so far as in us lies, we shall conspire with you and vie with 
you to make that memory immortal." [Applause and cheers.] 

Upon the conclusion of the address of Governor Beaver, repre- 
sentatives of the several New Jersey regiments and batteries engaged 
at Gettysburg were introduced, and spoke as follows : 

ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST INFANTRY. 

BY REV. GEORGE B. WIGHT, LIEUTENANT COMPANY I, FIRST REGIMENT. 

" Your Excellency Governor Green, Gentlemen of the 
Commission and Comrades — I have the honor to address you on 



70 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

behalf of the First New Jersey Infantry, and it seems singularly 
appropriate that these remarks should be made from a platform erected 
here, for this identical spot was covered by the First New Jersey as it 
formed in line of battle on the third day of that ever- memorable- 
struggle twenty-five years ago. 

" We have listened with deep gratification to the addresses of their 
Excellencies Governor Green and Governor Beaver, and we heartily 
thank them for their kind words, ascribing to us qualities which have 
ever been the soldier's pride. 

" These ceremonies are deeply interesting to us. Twenty-five years 
ago many of us were here, amid the din and shock of battle. These 
hill-tops swarmed with armed legions, the valley below was strewed 
with bodies of the wounded and slain, some of whom were comrades- 
dear to us. And now, after the lapse of these years, we are again 
here, and permitted to behold you unveil the noble monuments which 
New Jersey has generously erected to commemorate our part in that 
terrible battle. We are profoundly moved, and through Your Excel- 
lency and you, gentlemen of the Commission, we return our grateful 
thanks to the State for thus remembering us. 

" In the few moments to which my remarks must necessarily be 
limited, it would be impossible to give the record of the First New 
Jersey Infantry. And it is not necessary that I should. That record^ 
sirs, is forever a part of the battle itself, and not of this battle only, 
but of every engagement fought by the Army of the Potomac, from 
Bull Run, in 1861, to Mechanics ville, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Pass, 
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem Church, Wilderness, Cold Harbor 
and the battles about Petersburg, until, in the surrender at Appomat- 
tox, the war ended. But, sirs, I claim no patriotism, no prowess, no 
achievement, for the First New Jersey Infantry superior to the other 
New Jersey regiments, or to the regiments of other States, but I do 
claim that at all times and under all circumstances we endeavored to 
do full duty, and to so carry ourselves as good soldiers that New 
Jersey should have no occasion to be ashamed of us. That we suc- 
ceeded in our efforts this noble shaft abundantly testifies. 

" But permit me to say. Your Excellency, that the efficiency of the 
First New Jersey Regiment, and, indeed, of the entire First Brigade,^ 
was largely owing to the untiring efforts of two of your predecessors 
in office, men whose patriotism ought never be forgotten. Governor 
Charles S. Olden and Governor Joel Parker, and those associated with. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 71 

them in the military affairs of the State. They left nothing undone 
which would in any way add to the efficiency and comfort of the 
brigade. It is a fact not generally known, comrades, that in the early 
days of the war, before the government had perfected its Quarter- 
master-General's Department, and we greatly needed clothing, our 
requisitions, failing to be honored in Washington, were sent to Quar- 
termaster-General Perrine, at Trenton, who at once and fully supplied 
our wants. Then, again, we had excellent commanders, under whom 
we learned the duties of a soldier. In addition to our first great 
brigade commander, the intrepid Kearny, we had in command of the 
regiment the imperturbable Montgomery ; the dashing Torbert, whose 
face you see on yonder tablet, and afterwards in command of the 
brigade ; the earnest Collett, whose last words I took upon the field 
at Salem Church ; and the gallant Henry, Under such leaders, how 
could we have been inefficient ? 

" But thoughts other than those of battle press upon me to-day. I 
see before me many veterans of the First Infantry, some of whom 
enlisted with me in Company G. Comrades, it is with the greatest 
satisfaction that I greet you again. More than twenty years have 
passed since we looked into each other's faces ; since we wore the suit 
of blue and stood shoulder to shoulder upon many a hard-fought 
battle-field. We went from the camp into the workshop, to the 
farm, to the counting-room, to the office, or to the study, and in all 
these years we have been occupied with the thoughts which belong to 
busy lives, but we have not forgotten each other, and we never shall. 
The recollections of the past, with the memories of our departed 
comrades, will go with us to the end of life. But, comrades, in many 
ways the years are telling upon us, and by-and-by we shall go 
hence ; but after we have gone, these monuments shall tell to coming 
generations the story of your patriotism, and of your heroic deeds. 
And we want them to say, further, that now, after nearly a quarter 
of a century has passed, and we recall the history of the war for the 
suppression of the Rebellion, there is not a line of that history relating 
to us which we would wish obliterated, that we regret no act of ours 
in the great struggle, and that should the occasion repeat itself in our 
day, and we have strength remaining, to a man will we again take up 
the gage of battle in defense of a government of the people, by the 
people, and for the people. And we call upon them to preserve and 
hand down to their posterity the free institutions we have given them, 
as our fathers gave them to us. 



72 GETrYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

"And if these monuments will impress another truth upon the com- 
ing generations, and we doubt not they will, we shall not have fought 
in vain, and that is, our country knows no North, no South, no 
East, no West, but we are one nation, from ocean to ocean and from 
lake to gulf; that our Constitution forever binds these States 
together as one intelligent, free and happy people. 

" ' The union of lakes, and the union of lands, 

The union of States, none can sever ; 

The union of hearts, the union of hands. 

And the flag of our Union forever.' " 



ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE THIRD REGIMENT. 

BY MAJOR VP^ILLIAM E. BRYAN, THIRD REGIMENT, N. J. VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

" Me. Chairman, Governor of New Jersey, Comrades — I am 
not here from choice, I am here at a request from my superior officers. 
I have received many orders and many requests, and I can say to you 
that as long as I have been connected with the Third New Jersey I 
don't recollect of disobeying one. 

"So much has been said here that I cannot instruct you at all 
Where will the Third New Jersey come in ? What can I say for 
them ? I will say this : She will come in third in hand high, accord- 
ing to Kearny. [Applause.] 

" I followed her all through that terrible conflict which she passed 
through on the Peninsula, at Fredericksburg and at Getty^urg, and 
she stood by me, every man. I haven't a reproach to make against 
any of the New Jersey boys ; she was there all the time when she was 
called on, and don't you forget it ! [Applause.] 

" I will tell you a few incidents to show you the courage of the 
Third New Jersey — the Bloody Third. ' What regiment is that ? ' I 
have often been asked, and I would reply, ' The Third New Jersey.' 
* Oh, that is the Bloody Third.' I do not know why they called us 
that. I do not know that we drew any more blood from the Rebels 
than any other, but that is what they called us. 

"At Fairfax Court House, in that terrible conflict at Gaines' Mill, 
we hadn't a very nice position. I happened to be with the color company 
in that terrible fight. We went into the woods and drove the Rebels 
back ; they reinforced their forces and pushed us back, but we went 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 73 

back in good order. We went at them again and we stayed there, 
and a great many of them stayed there too long. While I was in 
command of my company I looked along the line to see that the boys 
did their duty — God bless them ! — and one would come to me and say, 
* Captain Bryan, I am hit.' ' Where are you hit ? ' 'I am hit in the 
leg.' Another one came along in a few minutes and said, ' Captain 
Bryan, I am hit.' I asked * Where are you hit?' He would reply, 
^ In the shoulder ; what shall I do ? ' I directed them to go to the 
rear, but they would have stayed right there if I had asked them. 
You may call that discipline, and who are we of the Third and of 
the rest of the regiments indebted to for this magnificent discipline ? " 

A Veteran—" To Kearny ! " 

Major Bryan — " Of course we are — to Phil. Kearny ! I wish he 
•were with us here to-day. We fought there until our ammunition 
was expended, and we stayed until we got orders to come out of the 
fight. I stayed by the flag and I came out with the flag — United 
States flag and the Jersey flag. 

" General Taylor came to me and said : ' Captain Bryan, look at the 
flag ; stand by the flag.' I said : ' General Taylor, if our flag is going 
down I will go down with it.' Well, we came out; it was raining 
bullets ; we were in a bad condition, but we got out safe, and I tell 
you I don't want to be in any worse place than that. 

" Yet another instance here at Salem Heights. We went into that 
fight with 300 muskets. Colonel Brown commanded. In twenty 
minutes he was shot through the leg, and I was then acting as Major — 
had not been commissioned yet. The old Third stood there by order 
of .the superior officers. We fought them till dark. They pushed us 
back to the fence. We rallied and came back like men. Captain 
Frantz was shot through the arm and sent to the rear. We went 
at them again, and about dark some regiment came up and reinforced 
us. As soon as it got dark we were ordered to fall back and go to 
camp. We got into camp about 9 o'clock, and they thought we were 
all captured, and a jolly old shout they gave us when we came in. 
Out of the 300 men who went into the fight we lost 99, one-third of 
the regiment. 

" I might go on for another hour and tell these things, but I don't 
want to take up the time. I will say to the Governor and the Com- 
missioners that you have the sincere thanks of our regiment for these 
magnificent monuments which you have erected to establish the places 



74 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

where the regiments stood that took part in this fight, and I assure 
you you have made me one of the happiest of men to-day. God bless 
you!" 

ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE FOURTH REGIMENT. 

BY CAPTAIN SAMUEL M. GAUL, FOURTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

" Comrades — As representing the Fourth New Jersey I can say 
nothing except to say that the history of the First Brigade is the 
history of the Fourth Regiment. We were organized and joined the 
brigade in August. We were taught our duties by Kearny, passed 
through all the battles of the First Brigade, re-enlisted in December, 
1863, became a veteran regiment and were mustered out July 9th, 
1865. You can see our history anywhere, as it is written. The 
history of the First Brigade is the history of the Fourth[[Regiment." 
[Applause.] 

ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT. 

BY CAPTAIN LEWIS VAN BLARCOM, OF THE FIFTEENTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS. 

"Comrades and Friends — We are here to-day at the call of 
memories. We have been drawn to this historic spot to-day by that 
irresistible force that attracts men to visit and view the ground 
whereon a great and momentous event occurred, especially when we 
have been actors. Here a quarter of a century ago the intelligence 
and courage of the Western Continent armed and equipped with the 
most destructive means for taking human life in battle then known^ 
met and strove for the mastery. Here a quarter of a century ago the 
flower of the Confederate army led by its chosen General tried con- 
clusions, by the arbitrament of war, with the Army of the Potomac^ 
led by a General who had never marshaled an army in battle, and 
suffered a crushing defeat. Though that army was inferior in force 
to the Confederate, disparity in numbers was reinforced with that 
consciousness that pervaded the Union men, that the hour of their 
country's peril was at hand, and they fought with a courage and 
resistance unparalleled in the annals of warfare. 

" The battle of Gettysburg is a landmark in the notable events «f 
modern history. The result of that battle demonstrated to the 
enlightened world the power of a free people to maintain and preserve 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 75 

a republican form of government. For it is now conceded that in 
results that battle was the decisive contest in the series of conflicts 
known as the War of the Eebellion, that proved that the prowess and 
patriotism of the loyal citizens of this nation were equal to the task 
of preserving to us and our children, liberty and law, the Constitution 
and the Union. Though that momentous conflict is monumented in 
the minds, not only of the survivors engaged therein, but of the 
present generation, it is the habit of man to erect some enduring 
material sign as a present commemoration, and as a beacon to those 
who come after us, when there shall be no living memories to point 
out the historic ground. 

"And so the State of New Jersey, in Legislature assembled, with 
the approval of its honored Governor, at the expense of the State, 
directed the erection of monuments in granite, to do public honor to 
the regimental organizations of New Jersey soldiers that formed no 
mean factor in the organized war power that made up the army that 
fought back and vanquished the supreme efibrt of rebellion in the 
famed battle of Gettysburg. 

" I know I but reflect the feeling of all the survivors of the Fif- 
teenth Regiment now present and of all those absent when I on this 
occasion express their great appreciation of the distinction which 
their State has conferred upon them, not only in the erection of this 
handsome monument, but in the liberality of the State in furnishing 
transportation and subsistence to attend these exercises. 

" Though the Fifteenth Regiment was not actively engaged in this 
battle, its courage and efficiency were amply demonstrated on many 
well-fought fields, both before and after Gettysburg. I instance 
Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Spottsylvania, Cedar Creek, Win- 
chester and Cold Harbor. In those battles, in the forefront, fell 
Lindsley, Hicks, Rabadou, Walker, Yanvoy, Justice, Boeman, 
Shimer, Harris, Decker, Vangelder and a host of true, brave men 
whose names I have not the time to mention, who with their lives 
maintained their own honor, the honor of their country and of the 
Fifteenth Regiment. 

"And the survivors to-day of that regiment, present at these exer- 
cises and absent, deserve mention. I see many of them before me. 
No braver and truer men to duty ever shouldered a rifle, brandished 
a sword or faced a foe. . 

" How naturally our minds compare the present situation with that 



76 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

of twenty-five years ago ! Then, in the first three days of July, 
1863, powerful armies confronted, the crash of musketry and the 
thunder of cannon were heard. War in most grim-visaged form 
stalked over these hills and through these valleys. A very carnival 
of death and destruction held sway. 

" To-day is peaceful ; no hostile foe is near ; we are not waiting for the 
quick, sharp command to fall in and forward to battle, and it is a 
matter of high congratulation that our country is at peace, and no 
wars or rumors of war exist within our borders from dissension 
within or threatened invasion from without. 

" We who are here to-day should be profoundly thankful that a 
kind Providence spared our lives in the dangers of battle, and has 
permitted us to meet together on this battle-field. Many of us have 
not met since we parted on the field of battle, by reason of disability, 
from wounds, for further active service. Many recognize each other. 
We all know our noble Chaplain, now here. No regiment was more 
fortunate in having a Chaplain so true and so good, and so respected 
and loved. [Applause.] 

" Some of us may come here again, but the number will be few. 
The remorseless artillery of time is thinning our ranks, and soon but 
a few old men will survive to meet together to represent the regiment 
in which we take so much pride." [Applause.] 

ADDRESS IN BEHALF OF BATTERY A. 

Colonel Duffy — " By request of the Commission, the speech dedi- 
cating Battery A will be made by General William S. Stryker, 
Adjutant-General of our State." 

Gen. Stryker then said : 

"Your Excellency, Col. Duffy and Comrades — After a 
somewhat close study for years of the details of the history of the 
Civil War, I am not bold in asserting that no organization of light 
artillery did more effective service than Captain Hexamer's Battery 
of New Jersey Volunteers. [Applause.] 

" During the summer of 1861 the organization of the old militia 
known as the Hudson County Artillery volunteered for the war, was 
mustered into the service of the United States, August 12th, and 
Captain William Hexamer was commissioned its commanding oflBcer. 





h'^^' BATTERY 

i COHWWtO lKr«.S B«TU£ BV FIRST UWIESWT 

t ^XUCUSTINK iV. i'ARSOiSiS. - 





Monument to Battery A. 
('main line of battle, south of copse of trees.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 77 

"It was enrolled with 156 officers and men, and 521 men were 
attached to the battery at different times during the period of the 
war. This organization had as its commandant a soldier who had 
received his instruction in artillery in the best schools in Germany, 
and the tactics of light artillery was a familiar drill to him. His 
men also had, many of them, served in the German army, and, with 
hearts full of liberty, they were ready with patriotic heroism to con- 
secrate their labors and their lives to the preservation of the unity of 
the Republic. The battery was first equipped with four ten-pounder 
Parrot guns and two twelve-pounder howitzers. On reaching the 
front, it was assigned to Franklin's division of the First Army Corps, 
and came immediately under the piercing, magnificent eye of General 
Phil. Kearny. This one-armed hero of the Rebellion implanted his 
spirit in the heart of every Jerseyman he commanded, and the inspir- 
ation which he created remained in their breasts long after they had 
' laid him low in the clover.' 

" It was just at the noon-day hour when Battery A, at the fight at 
West Point, May 7th, 1862, was ordered for the first time to prepare 
for action. The Sharp rifles of the Fifth Alabama Regiment in the 
division of Major-General Daniel H. Hill first caused this organiza- 
tion to feel the force of the deadly bullets of the Rebellion. But 
bold Hexamer was ready, and his i Parrot guns opened with spherical 
case and cannister, and sprinkled the sleet of death over the entire 
Confederate line opposed to them. Then the screeching shell was 
sent through the branches of the thick wood in their close front, and 
out of the dense smoke the groans of the dying and the scurrying of 
the retreating foe could be distinctly heard. A few days later, at the 
fight at Gaines' Mill, as the battery was coming into position in the 
open, they were greeted at short range with a terrific fire, which in a 
moment disabled seventeen horses, but without further delay a vig- 
orous cannonade was made, and in a few minutes the musketry fire 
ceased. Later, on the same day, the Confederate attack was renewed. 
The same brilliant artillery fire was made by Battery A, and although 
the loss was heavy, yet they did their work effectively, and won the 
hearty applause of all who witnessed their boldness and coolness 
under severe attack. 

It was quite late in the afternooa on September 17th, 1862, when 
the gallant Hexamer was ordered into battery near the Dunker 
church, and although the enemy had twenty- pounder rifle guns 



78 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

throwing heavy shell and shrapnel at our infantry line, yet when the 
Jersey artillery opened fire ' with scream of shot and burst of shell,' 
after just thirty rounds the enemy withdrew from their position, out 
of range. Not one of you who took part in this affair but can 
remember the exultant cheers which greeted you after you had silenced 
two Confederate batteries, as you galloped by the line of the old 
Sixth Corps. It is the concurrent testimony of many general officers 
that no battery did more effective service at Antietam than our Jersey 
battery. 

"Again, at Salem Church, the sturdy artillerists opened an answer- 
ing cannonade upon four batteries of the foe and silenced them, fight- 
ing with great gallantry and success. At Banks' Ford they covered 
the army as they were leaving the bloody field. 

" This organization was not fully engaged on this historic field of 
Gettysburg until July 3d, but on that day this fast-worked artillery 
rained shrapnel and shell as that great storming army of heroic 
Southern men charged up to their guns. Then, as the chorus chants 
in Shakespeare's King Henry the Fifth, 

" ' The nimble gunner 

With lynstock now the devilish cannon touches 
And down goes all before him.' 

" So, as with stubborn courage the intrepid foe tried to gain this 
position and break the line of the old Second Corps, the Angel of 
Death spread his wings and enveloped in one long line of blood and 
carnage the magnificent waves of battle. 

"At Cold Harbor 510 rounds of shot and shell volleyed and 
thundered from this grand old battery, and the true-hearted, sturdy 
and brave Americans of German birth displayed during the ten days 
which followed that battle of June 1st, in fighting here and there 
day after day, behind breastworks and in the open field, checking 
the enemy's batteries, holding our own positions, shelling the camp 
of the foe, resisting their advance, hastening their retreat — thesd brave 
men at their hot guns loosed the fateful charges which scattered de- 
struction among the hostile army of the South. 

" Then before Petersburg on June 1 9th, with the enemy's cannon 
on their right and on their left, they engaged the foe with all their 
usual stubborn opposition. Their cannons, ' with bowels full of wrath, 
spit forth their iron indignation.' Through all the war this battery. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 79 

-whenever ordered into action, bore a most honorable part. No man 
dare point to a single instance where any man failed to do his full 
duty. Membership in this organization during the war period stands 
for all that is brave, all that is heroic, all that is patriotic, in the con- 
duct of our volunteer soldiery. Those who still live may point with 
pride to their discharges, they may show their honorable scars received 
in battle, they may always glory in the fact that they did duty in this 
gallant company. 

" The sweet poet. General Lytle, who, after fighting, the bravest of 
the brave, fell dead at Chickamauga, had in his pocket when he was 
carried oflF the field a short poem (whether he was the author or not 
is still undetermined), which, being slightly altered, may well apply to 
these men around me, might with great propriety be cut upon this 

monument : 

" ' Who faltered or shivered ? 

Who shunned battle stroke ? 
Whose fire was uncertain ? 

Whose battle line broke ? 
Go ask it from history, 

Years from to-day, 
And the record shall tell you — 

Not Battery A.' " 

[Applause.] 

ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE THIETEENTH REGIMENT. 

Colonel Duffy — "Among the monuments erected on this field by the 
State of New Jersey there was one erected to the Thirteenth Regi- 
ment, New Jersey Volunteers. The Commissioners have requested 
Captain Mathews, inasmuch as there are a great number of the sur- 
vivors of that regiment present, to make a short address. I have the 
honor to introduce him." 

Captain Ambrose M. Mathews said : 

" Governor Green, Mr. Chairman, Comrades and Fellow- 
Citizens OF New Jersey — I have but a few remarks to make for 
the Thirteenth New Jersey Infantry, and will briefly run over the 
record of the regiment. That is all the speech I shall attempt to 
make. The Thirteenth New Jersey Infantry joined the Army of 
the Potomac in August or about the first of September, 1862. It 
iiadn't the advantage which the First Brigade had, of being com- 



80 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

manded by that peerless soldier, Phil. Kearny, nor did it have the 
advantage the Second Brigade had, of having a place in the division 
commanded by General Joseph Hooker, but the brigade to which it 
belonged won laurels under Banks, and was fresh from the battle of 
Cedar Mountain. The brigade that we had the good fortune to be 
placed in was not only a veteran brigade composed of such regiments 
as the Second Massachusetts, Third Wisconsin, Tenth Maine and 
Twenty-seventh Indiana, but was one which had no superior in the 
army that was destined to fight the three great battles of Antietam, 
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In less than three weeks after the 
Thirteenth Regiment had entered the service occurred the battle of 
Antietam. In that battle its conduct was so creditable that General 
George H. Gordon paid it a very high compliment in his official 
report, and henceforth its standing in the brigade, and in the corps to 
which it belonged, was assured. At Chancellorsville it met with 
great losses, and the Twelfth Corps there, with the Third Corps, a& 
you know, bore the brunt of the battle on the evening of the second 
and on the third day of May, 1863. During the campaign of Get- 
tysburg, on July Ist, 1863, as we approached this town we were sent 
off to the right, across the hill known as Wolf's hill, were deployed 
as skirmishers, and met the enemy advancing, and shots were 
exchanged with them, but they seemed to have received orders about 
that time to retire, which they did, making to our men derisive 
motions, and we soon afterwards received an order to take a position 
near Gulp's hill. 

" Our monument is placed upon the line which we held at the end 
of the second and third days of July, a little beyond Gulp's hill, in 
a place known as McAllister's woods. 

" The great battle of Gettysburg completed the service of the Thir- 
teenth in the Army of the Potomac, or at least the campaign that 
succeeded that battle did. There was no fighting that the regiment 
did after the battle of Gettysburg in the Army of the Potomac. In 
October we were moved West and joined the army that was the twin- 
brother of the Army of the Potomac — the Army of the Cumber- 
land — and were henceforth under the command of General George 
H. Thomas. During all the history of our brigade and regiment in 
that army, in the battles of Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, and all the 
battles to Atlanta during the March to the Sea, the capture of Savan- 
nah, the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville, the regiment bore 
well its part, and at the end we were with you of the Army of the 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 81 

Potomac again, and had the great privilege of marching in review at 
Washington before the President of the United States and his 
cabinet. 

" Comrades, to-day I had a substitute for the first time, but my sub- 
stitute has not appeared, and I am here, as it were, unprepared. I 
have given you this brief record in order that the regiment might not 
b3 unrepresented. I thank you for your kindness, for your atten- 
tion, and will now close." [Applause.] 



ADDKESS IN BEHALF OF THE TWELFTH EEGIMENT. 

BY COL. WM. E. POTTKR, OF THE TWELFTH NEW JEBSEY INFANTRY VOLtTNTEEES. 

" By her Governor and principal officers, by her chosen Commis- 
sioners, by the battalions of her National Guard, by her surviving 
veterans, the State of New Jersey is present here to-day to do honor 
to the memories of her citizen soldiers who fell in this battle, and 
typically to the memories of all her sons who died in the defense of 
the Government of the United States in the late great struggle. 

" It is well that it is so. 

"New Jersey has always been distinguished in war. She bore 
honorable part in the contest which wrested the Canadas from France. 
During the Revolution the soil of our State was trampled into bloody 
mire by the feet of contending armies, and the New Jersey Brigade 
under the command of the gallant Gen. William Maxwell and CoL 
Elias Dayton, at Brandywine and Germantown, at Springfield and 
Monmouth, in the campaign in Northwestern New York, against the 
savage allies of Britain, and before Yorktown, freely shed its blood, 
and was distinguished, even in the army of Washington, for inflexible 
courage. 

"With a population in 1860 of but 672,000, New Jersey was 
more than decimated by the war against the rebellion, for ske mar- 
shaled under the flag 88,304 men, a surplus of 10,057 men over all 
the calls made upon her — a larger English-speaking army than the 
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or the United Kingdom, 
although the pillars of its empire circled the whole globe, was ever 
able to set in line of battle upon any one field. For not that great 
army that Wellington led, that for seven years waged war among the 

6 



82 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

mountains of Portugal and Spain until it burst through the icy bar- 
riers of the Pyrenees, and brought fire and sword upon the fertile 
plains of Southern France ; nor that other army which, during a long 
summer's day, held at bay the veteran legions of France, and, with 
the aid of the Prussians, laid the mighty power of Napoleon in the 
dust ; nor that other army that for weary months in the trenches of 
Sebastopol confronted the assembled forces of Russia, ever numbered 
60,000 English-speaking men. 

" Upon this very field New Jersey, relative to her population, had 
a large percentage of troops. We had present at this battle 12 regi- 
ments of infantry, 1 regiment of cavalry and 2 batteries. 

" The regiment whose line was marked by the low stone wall that 
you see before you, by the accident of its position, by its firm bearing 
and the energy of its officers and men, had the fortune to be among 
the most distinguished in its services, of the New Jersey regiments on 
this field. 

" It was the only regiment from our State in the Second Army 
Corps, and held the right of the left center of the army. It was the 
only regiment in the division of which it formed a part, armed with 
a smooth-bore musket. By a successful charge at a critical moment 
on the afternoon of the 2d of July, with a loss of two officers and 
forty men, it captured the Bliss barn and established a formidable 
force upon the flank of the line of the advance of Heth's division of 
Hill's corps of the Rebel army. Every brigade to the enemy's right 
of this point had been thrown forward to the attack of this crest, and 
after the Bliss barn was thus captured, no portion of Hill's corps, to 
the enemy's left, advanced. The hesitation of these troops paralyzed 
the advance of Rhodes' division of Ewell's corps, which had formed 
line upon the plain in front of the town for the attack of the ridge, 
so that Early, still further to the left, attacked alone. There can be 
little doubt now, that if Heth and Rhodes had assaulted with Early, 
the position would have been carried, and the fate of the Union 
might have been changed. 

" In the mighty assault of July 3d, this regiment, with its brigade, 
stood as immovably as the stone wall in its front. No troops of the 
enemy reached its line save as prisoners of war. 

"And when, on that fateful day, the heavy column of the enemy, 
under the withering fire which met it, melted away into a cloud of 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 83 

"broken battalions, leaving the slopes in our front strewn with the 
soldiers and crimsoned with the blood of the great States of Virginia 
and North Carolina, the possibility of the existence of the slave- 
holders' Confederacy as an independent sovereignty among the nations 
of the earth had ceased to be. 

" From the muzzles of those death -dealing muskets there spoke the 
:fiat of Omnipotence, declaring in tones which overleaped the ocean, 
and penetrated Europe and Asia, until they reached the farthest 
islands of the Pacifia Sea, that henceforth the United States was to 
'be, and forever remain, mighty and free, undivided and inseparable. 

" This regiment lost here two officers and twenty enlisted men 
tilled, four officers and eighty enlisted men wounded, nine enlisted 
men missing. Of the missing, three at least were taken prisoners 
■while on the picket line, and died under the nameless tortures of 
Anderson ville prison. 

" Other regiments from our State had their particular occasions of 
heroic achievement, but in the long list of martial deeds performed in 
this battle, history will point to the especial glory of the Twelfth 
Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers. 

" Its loss here was eighteen per cent, of the entire loss of the New 
Jersey troops. 

"This regiment, as appears by the official report of the Adjutant- 
General, was present in thirty-two general engagements with the 
enemy. 

"Its total loss by death during its terms of service was 261 — a 
larger percentage of loss than was sustained by any other of our regi- 
ments except the Fifteenth. 

" What this regiment did is but a type of what all our regi- 
ments did. 

" These veterans who are present to-day are the survivors of troops 
whose valor has never been surpassed. These mere squads of men 
once formed part of those impetuous columns which streamed up the 
bloody heights of Fredericksburg, spurned the onset of the enemy 
upon this field, fought their way through the tangled thickets of the 
Wilderness, won final and enduring victory. 

" These voices, now tremulous, many of them, once drowned the 
roar of artillery with their cheers ; these arms, now enfeebled, once 
■wielded the saber and musket; these eyes, now dimmed, once glanced 



84 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

keenly along the deadly rifle ; the army which they represent once 
stood a wall of living valor between the enemy and our peaceful 
Northern homes. 

"Our names, our services, our . sacrifices, our achievements, will 
soon be but memories. We say unto you, preserve them. We ask 
not rewards, but gratitude and remembrance. 

" The last survivors of the Grand Army of the Union must soon 
pass away. These monuments, though of granite, may crumble and 
be overthrown, but the government which we saved, the cause for 
which we fought and for which our comrades died, these will endure* 

" Our best monument will be that a mighty nation, through all 
coming time, shall hold our patriotism and our cause beyond com- 
parison — sacred. 

" Our services and deeds stand for patriotism, loyalty, devotion to 
the highest interests of the whole country, as well as for courage and 
resolution. 

" But let us cherish firm and clear ideas of the late war. 

" There is a great gulf fixed — as wide as the over-arching sky, as 
deep as the fathomless sea — between treason to the Government of the 
United States and unswerving devotion to the Government of the 
United States. Into it were flung with lavish hand not only a vast 
treasure, but the priceless lives of 400,000 of the best and bravest of 
the young men of the loyal States. 

" Neither time, nor space, nor changed conditions, nor false senti- 
ment can shroud these facts from view. 

" There is — there can be — no just comparison between this great 
government of civil liberty guarded by law and the military des- 
potism born amid the throes of war, overthrown by the shock of 
arms, without history save four years of bloody strife, impelled by 
the twin furies of slavery and treason. 

" These monuments which stand mute but eloquent sentinels along 
this historic crest are dedicated to the memories of those whose patri- 
otism led them to die for constitutional liberty. 

" Whatever else this occasion teaches, let this be the lesson of the 
hour to ourselves and to the generations yet to be. 

" From every grave of a New Jersey soldier that undulates the 
mould of yonder cemetery, from the nameless resting-places of their 
comrades whose precious and sacred dust lies mingled with the soil of 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 85 

<every State from the Potomac southward, from the living as well as 
the dead, there comes up to-day the spirit of that pathetic invocation 
graven upon the monument reared to those who fell at Thermopylae, 
in the gray dawn of history — 

" ' Traveler, to the stranger tell 

How we here for Sparta fighting, fell, 
Obedient to her laws.' " 



ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF THE SECOND REGIMENT. 

BY COL. SAMUEL L. BUCK, OF THE SECOND NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

"Comrades of the Second New Jersey Volunteers — Stand- 
ing as we do on ground made sacred by the blood of our brothers, and 
memorable as the spot where the tide of rebellion was rolled back 
from free soil, it is fitting and proper that we should, by monuments, 
tell to future generations that this was the spot where their fathers 
struck the shackles from four millions of slaves, and wiped from the 
glorious stars and stripes the only spot that marred its beauty ; that 
twenty- five years after, the survivors, by invitation of a grateful 
State, placed this monument to mark the spot where the sacrifice was 
made for liberty and union. 

" We charge them to guard with jealous care the priceless boon of 
liberty, until ' governments by the people and for the people ' be the 
birthright of all nations. 

"As our eyes rest on the battle-field, we fancy we hear once more 
the hiss of the cruel Minie, the cannon's roar, bursting shells, ex- 
ploding caissons, groans of the dying and shouts of the living. 
Thanks be to God, it is only fancy, for to-day we stand a nation, 
with no North, no South, our glorious banner protecting the weakest 
and least of its citizens. Shame and everlasting disgrace be upon 
the American who will not cry, ' The Union of the States, one and 
inseparable, now and forever !' 

" Fellow-soldiers of the old Second Regiment, as you have the 
honor of participating in the unveiling of this memorial of your 
heroism in the most momentous struggle of modern days, the benefi- 
cent results of which to our country and humanity it is impossible to 
estimate, let this then be the time when we shall consecrate the few 
remaining years allotted to us to cementing that ' peace ' the peerless 



86 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

Grant sighed for, and with the martyred Lincoln exclaim, ' Witb 
charity for all, with malice towards none,' we leave this monument ta 
tell its story, after we have answered to the last roll-call, in that land 
where there shall be no more war." 

Colonel Duffy then stated that this closed the dedicatory exercise?,, 
but calls were made for Brigadier- General John Watts Kearny, who 
spoke as follows : 

ADDEESS BY GENERAL JOHN WATTS KEARNY. 

" Veterans — It is a hopeless task to expect me to thank you in 
fitting terms for this reception. It is indeed a proud moment of my life 
to be thus greeted upon the battle-field of Gettysburg by the men who 
made this field historic. I know that it is not my presence here that 
has caused this reception. There is a magic power in names, and the 
name I bear recalls to you affectionate and personal memories, which 
will never die as long as there is a soldier living who saw, who knew 
or who fought under the gallant soldier who bore it. [Applause.] 

" General Phil. Kearny, from the moment that he took command 
of his beloved First New Jersey Brigade to the hour of his death, 
never drew a breath of life that was not pregnant with devotion to 
the Union, and with love and affection for the brave men whom he 
led to save it. His spirit hovers around us now,, and blesses the 
Providence that permitted his name to be associated forever with the 
gallant State of New Jersey and the First New Jersey Brigade. 

" I did not expect to address you on this occasion. I came here to 
be a silent witness of your meeting, to see veterans greet veterans, and 
comrades renewing in times of peace and prosperity the bonds of 
friendship that were formed in times of peril and toil. I am glad to 
be here. You have a peculiar interest in this field which your valor 
defended, and in these monuments. Yes, I, in common with all my 
fellow-citizens of this happy land, have also a deep and abiding inter- 
est in the principles for which you fought, and which these monuments 
commemorate. We do not, we cannot, share your glory, but we do 
partake of the reward of your patriotic sacrifices. [Applause.] 

" We are here to dedicate the monuments erected by the authority 
of the State of New Jersey to mark the positions held and successfully^ 
defended by the New Jersey regiments during the battle of Gettys- 
burg. It is our wish that every one who visits this field may know 




Medallion on West Face of Brigade Monument. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 87 

the important part that the sons of New Jersey took in the preserva- 
tion of the Union, and in the performance of this duty of State pride 
and gratitude all the merit that we claim is that we have shown our- 
selves sufficiently elevated in thought and principle to comprehend, in 
all its magnitude, and feel, in all its importance, the value of your 
achievements. 

" O, most fortunate veterans ! You have outlived the perils which 
surrounded your country. You have been permitted by a beneficent 
Providence to see this day, and to know that your work has been 
nobly and successfully accomplished. 

" You have lived to see the men who fought against you return to 
their allegiance, not under the constraint of military government and 
penal legislation, but through a wise and salutary view of their own 
interests and inclinations. When I contemplate these things I am 
filled with amazement, and, forgetting all other thoughts and senti- 
ments, in the name of my country, in the name of the Union and the 
Constitution, I thank you for all that you have done." [Applause.] 

Calls were then made for General Grubb, and he spoke as follows : 



ADDRESS BY GENERAL E. BURD GRUBB. 

" CoMEADES — I do not think you want to hear much from me ; I 
do not think there is anything for me to say, except that there is one 
thing that has been forgotten, and that is to present our thanks to the 
Governor of Pennsylvania and the Governor of New Jersey. I think 
it is well to present our thanks to the Governor of Pennsylvania, who 
stands here on one leg, welcoming soldiers to Pennsylvania, and we 
thank him most heartily for the splendid manner in which he wel- 
comed us. Allow me to express your thanks to the Governor of our 
little State for the liberal manner and the generous and excellent 
manner in which he has brought us here and entertained us here 
to-day 

"I think that is all you want me to say just now. You see in 
what respect and honor you are held ; you see how these people come 
here and study, and will always study, what these monuments say, 
as being the greatest thing that we ever did in this country. What 
lesson should that teach you ? Keep your honor bright ; a soldier's 



88 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

honor is his trust, and that in fraternity, charity and loyalty, the 
words that are on those monuments will endure when the tears of time 
have washed the letters out of these stones." [Applause.] 

Upon the conclusion of General Grubb's address, the company 
dispersed. 

DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT TO THE FIRST NEW JERSEY 
CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The great distance of the cavalry monument from the other monu- 
ments made it impossible to visit it on the thirtieth of June, when 
the others were dedicated. It was therefore arranged that special 
exercises be held on Sunday morning, July 1st, 1888. The Governor 
and his staff, the Commissioners, the delegation from the Legislature, 
and others, took carriages and proceeded to the monument on the 
Hummel farm, three and a half miles east of Gettysburg. A number 
of the survivors of the regiment were also present. 

Colonel Duffy — " We are very much disappointed because, through 
some mistake, a majority of the survivors of the regiment, now on 
the field, are not here. We have decided, however, to go on with the 
exercises. I have the honor to introduce Chaplain Haines." 

Chaplain Haines then read the CXLIV. Psalm, after which he 
offered prayer. 

INVOCATION BY CHAPLAIN HAINES. 

"Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we invoke Thy blessing 
upon the exercises of this day. We come here to discharge a duty to 
the memory of our fallen comrades, who gave their lives a sacrifice to 
preserve the union of our country. We bow ourselves before Thy 
majesty. Thou who reignest in heaven above, and over the earth 
beneath, and we rejoice that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. 
Give us sentiments suitable to the occasion ; may we see at what great 
sacrifices our country was saved and the Union preserved, and may 
we value these blessings of union and country more than ever before, 
since they are gained and secured for us by such toil and sacrifices. 

" We thank Thee for the noble record of this regiment, who bravely 
bore its part in near an hundred battles, and honored by its heroism 
the State which sent it to the field and the cause for which it was 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 89 

■enlisted. Let the fame of these dead heroes be more enduring than 
the stones which bear their names. May their example inspire others 
to courage ; and may our country never want brave youth, ready to 
go forth as they, in obedience to her call in any time of peril. 

" We recognize, our Father in Heaven, Thy goodness toward the 
American people in permitting them to remain one nation, with one 
emblem of our Union waving over all. Direct us throughout this 
day, and animate us with such thoughts and feelings as are pleasing 
in Thy sight. Bless our whole land. Pour out Thine Holy Spirit, 
and make us to be that happy people whose God is the Lord. 

" To Thy name would we give praise for evermore. May grace, 
mercy and peace be with us all. Amen." 

ADDEESS ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

BY MAJOR HENKY W. SAWYER, OF THE FIRST NEW JERSEY CAVALRY VOLUNTEERS. 

" Your Excellency Governor of New Jersey, and Sena- 
tors, Commissioners and Comrades — We meet to-day to do 
honor to the memory of our departed comrades of the First New 
Jersey Cavalry, and to dedicate to their memory this monument 
erected by a grateful State in honor of her patriotic sons, who gave 
all that soldiers oan give upon the field of battle — their lives. The 
history of this regiment is well known. Its discipline, its valor and 
endurance have been displayed on many well-fought and hard-con- 
tested fields, numbering some ninety different engagements. The 
memory of Haines, Broderick, Shelmire, Lucas, Hart, Janeway and 
others is still green in our affections. But the time allotted forbids me 
to dwell upon the past or describe the services of this regiment ; I 
will leave that task for others. Let us to-day recall that nothing 
can arouse vindictiveness on one side, or passion on the other. This 
day recalls the most magnificent triumph of forgiveness the world 
ever saw. Here, in those graves where we laid our comrades, we 
buried our passions and sectional hate. And here, too, we buried the 
shackles of the slave, and the flowers that now bloom where once our 
mighty armies trod, and the monuments that dot the hillsides and 
these plains, mark where our nation's heroes sleep. 

" They attest to the courage of the American soldier. And again 
upon this field will meet the Blue and the Gray ; not in the deadly 
conflict of twenty-five years ago, not with that demon power and pas- 



90 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

sion that can anger in the human soul, not with that atrocity which 
fiend-like ingenuity can invent to destroy each other. Let us look in 
friendship, charity and loyalty over the faults of each other ; let u» 
throw the mantle of forgetfulness ; let us teach ourselves ; let us instill 
into our children, while yet they learn to lisp the name of father and 
mother, love for our whole united country. No North or South, East 
or West, but love to our whole united land, devotion to our flag, and 
reverence to our free republican institutions. Let us forget, for it is 
human ; let us forgive — it is divine. But remember that, under the 
laws of God and man, treason is a crime. Let it not be a stepping- 
stone to honor, power or preferment to have been in the assaulting 
column on our nation's life; and while we forgive all, remember 
there are those who have no need of our nation's forgiveness, but are 
entitled to her consideration. In the language of the great, immortal 
Lincoln let us close : ' With malice towards none, with charity for all, 
with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us 
strive to finish the work we are iu, to bind up the nation's wounds, 
to care for him who has borne the battle and for his widow and his 
orphan.' " 

Colonel Duffy — " I have the honor to introduce to you the Governor 
of our State." • 

Governor Green said : 

" Colonel Duffy, Gentlemen of the Commission, Survivors 
OF THE First Cavalry Regiment — If the distinguished place in 
history which the regiment to the memory of which this beautiful 
monument has been erected, rested alone, as it does not rest, upon two 
events — the one, where at Brandy Station they made those charges 
upon the headquarters of Stuart, taking the position and putting to 
rout his favorite regiment, and in that demonstrating what discipline 
and organization and bravery and dash would do in the line of" 
attack ; and that other event upon this spot, where they held, until 
their ammunition was well-nigh exhausted, this position against attack 
after attack from the Rebel forces — where they refused to be called in 
from the line, borrowing ammunition again from the regiment that 
was sent to relieve them, and in that demonstrating what bravery and 
fortitude and patriotism could accomplish ; if, I say, the place in his- 
tory of this regiment rested alone upon those two events, it would 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 91 

give it a high place — a commanding position among those organiza- 
tions whose gallant services will forever perpetuate the government 
* of the people, by the people, and for the people.' " [Applause.] 



ADDEESS OF CAPTAIN S. C. WAGNER, 

OP THE THIRD PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, ASSIGNED TO DUTY ON 
BRIG.-GEN. M'INTOSH'S STAFF. 

"Governor and Survivors of the First Regiment, New 
Jersey Cavalry — Twenty- five years ago on Tuesday next, about 
two o'clock in the afternoon, Gen. Mcintosh, commanding the First 
Brigade of Gen. Gregg's division of cavalry, gave me the order at 
the edge of yonder woods to dismount the New Jersey cavalry and 
place them on the skirmish line. I immediately rode over to the 
First New Jersey Cavalry and inquired for Maj. Beaumont, who at 
that time, I was informed, was sick. I then hunted for Maj. Jane- 
way, and gave the order to him. The First New Jersey Cavalry was 
dismounted at the edge of yonder woods, near the cavalry monument. 
Just before we advanced I turned to Gen. Mcintosh, then command- 
ing the brigade, and said, 'General, how far shall I advance this 
regiment ? ' He said, ' Until you develop the enemy, sir.' 

" We immediately dismounted the First New Jersey. The regiment 
extended from yonder worm fence to the left of the cavalry monu- 
ment, about three or four hundred yards. We advanced across the 
fields until we reached the brow of the hill opposite this ravine, when 
we discovered Ihe Rebel cavalry dismounted and posted in line of 
battle. There the First New Jersey received one of the most mur- 
derous fires that I believe I was ever under during over three years' 
service in the army. I recollect about two years ago there was a 
reunion between the Rebel and Union cavalry on this field, and 
both the Confederate and Union officers agreed as to the respec- 
tive positions of the Confederate and Union cavalry engaged in the 
fight. The Second South Carolina Confederate Cavalry lay in this 
little copse, dismounted and prepared to resist our advance. The 
First New Jersey received no opposition until they reached the brow 
of that hill. At that time, as I before stated, I think we received 
one of the worst fires we were ever under. For a time the First New 
Jersey were staggered and fell back to the worm fence, but the regi- 
ment was always equal to any emergency, and quickly re-formed its 



92 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

line. If I am not mistaken, when we received the first fire Capt. 
Boyd requested me to go back for reinforcements. I immediately 
crawled along the fence over there, back to where my Orderly held 
my horse, mounted and rode back to Gen. Mcintosh and said to him, 
General, we have found the Rebels and there are plenty of them.' 
He directed me to dismount two squadrons of the Third Pennsylvania 
Cavalry and reinforce the First New Jersey. By the time they 
advanced to the brow of yonder hill the First New Jersey had re- 
formed and recovered their position ; the two squadrons of the Third 
Pennsylvania were thrown to the left of the First New Jersey, con- 
necting with the Sixth Michigan on their right, thus completing our 
line. The position I have indicated the First New Jersey held dur- 
ing the entire afternoon of July 3d, and the Second South Carolina, 
reinforced by a regiment of dismounted rifles, failed to dislodge them. 
About sundown our entire line was advanced to and held the Rummel 
buildings. The advanced line of the Rebels in the ravine, which 
was held by the Second South Carolina Cavalry and a regiment of 
dismounted riflemen, all day, was compelled to fall back in the evening, 
along with Gen. Stuart's entire cavalry force, to their original position 
in the woods, at the top of the hill, beyond the Rummel farm buildings. 
" I will say to you, gentlemen from the State of New Jersey, that 
I consider the First New Jersey Cavalry one of the bravest regiments 
that ever drew a saber. I never knew the regiment to flinch under 
the most trying circumstances." [Applause.] 

ADDEESS BY CAPTAIN WYNKOOP. 

Captain William Wynkoop, of Company C, now residing at New- 
town, Pa., being called on, spoke extemporaneously, as follows: 

" Colonel Duffy and Comrades — This is one of the proudest 
days of my life; another one was just twenty-five years ago, when as 
First Lieutenant of the First New Jersey Cavalry, I fought here dur- 
ing the entire day. On the thirtieth of June and on the first, second 
and third of July, T was with the regiment fighting over this part 
of the country, and the fact that to-day is my fifty-third birthday 
adds additional interest for me. This morning before seven o'clock, 
I walked over Little and Big Round Top, getting thereby a good 
appetite for breakfast. I am sorry that I arrived here too late to 
hear Colonel Sawyer's address. I want to say that while I am a 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 93 

Pennsylvanian, always a Pennsylvanian, and a Pennsylvanian to-day, 
that I started from Pennsylvania with Company A, fully officeredj 
many of them owning and riding their own horses, went over and 
joined the First New Jersey Cavalry, for the reason that we were 
afraid that we would not get in unless we took the first opportunity 
offered. 

" Company A never had a regret that they went to war under the 
State of New Jersey ; they have used us nobly from the first to the 
last, and have used our families well in every way. I am glad to be 
here to-day. Those stirring words from the Governor of the State 
and others, I have listened to with much interest. They seem some- 
thing like flattery, but I think, gentlemen, we have a good record. 
I know that there were individual exhibitions of courage that day 
which have never been told, and never will be told, but they are 
written on the hearts of all who were present, especially those who 
held a commission, and I always felt proud that I held a commission 
in the First New Jersey Cavalry." [Applause.] 



KESOLUTIONS OF THE VETERANS. 

Before breaking camp the invited guests of the State held a meet- 
ing at their camp in the Wheat-field and adopted the following reso- 
lutions and presented them to the Commissiom : 

hea.dquartees 
Camp op New Jersey Veterans. 

Gettysburg, Pa., July 2d, 1888. 
At a meeting held in the Camp of New Jersey Veterans, at Get- 
tysburg, Pa., July 2d, 1888, to consider the propriety of making 
some expression for the munificent treatment which they had received 
at the hands of the State, a committee was appointed to take such 
action as they deemed fitting, and at a subsequent meeting the follow- 
ing preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

Whereas, The Legislature of the State of New Jersey, appreciating 
the valuable services of her soldiers, did make appropriation for 
the purchase and erection of monuments in commemoration of- 
those who fell upon the field of honor ; and, whereas, upon the 
unveiling and dedication of said monuments, at Gettysburg, on 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle, the survivors of the- 



94 GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 

New Jersey organizations participating therein unanimously agree 
that the tribute bestowed by the Legislature of our State calls 
for some expression of gratitude on our part ; therefore, be it 

Resolved, That we tender to His Excellency Governor R. S. Green, 
General Wm. S. Stryker, Adjutant-General; General Lewis Perrine, 
Quartermaster-General ; the Legislature, and the New Jersey Battle- 
field Commission, our unanimous thanks for the appreciation by the 
State of our services, which has been so freely manifested toward us 
in providing transportation and entertainment on the occasion of the 
dedication of the monuments erected to commemorate the services of 
her sons who fell upon this and upon other historic fields. 

Resolved, That our thanks are due and are hereby tendered to 
Colonel Edward A. Campbell, commanding First Regiment, National 
Guard, and to his command, for the kindness and courtesy shown us 
upon this occasion. 

Resolved, That Colonel John Schoonover, commanding Camp of 
New Jersey Veterans, be requested to forward a copy of these reso- 
lutions to His Excellency Governor Robt. S. Green, Hon. W. H. 
Corbin, Secretary of the Battle-field Commission, and to Colonel 
Edward L. Campbell, commanding First Regiment, National Guard. 

John P. Haet, First Cavalry, 

Thos. C. Cunningham, First Infantry, 

Wm. H. McDonald, Second Infantry, 

Adon W. Cattell, Third Infantry, 

Samuel M. Gaul, Fourth Infantry, 

John K. Simon, Fifth Infantry, 

Wm. H. Hempsing, Sixth Infantry, 

George H. Miller, Seventh Infantry, 

Joseph Browe, Eighth Infantry, 
Edward S. E. Newberry, Eleventh Infantry, 

George A. Cobb, Twelfth Infantry, 

Wm. B. Littell, Thirteenth Infantry, 

E. B. JuDD, Fifteenth Infantry, 

Committee. 



JOHN SCHOONOVER, 

Chairman. 



Bishop W. Mains, 

Secretary. 




0Mm , ^F.w J'IHdLY 

.JlJW 3J8B'J, 



': £8rffr£0 8rW£ 

STATE crHEwasEv. 

1888. 



■|ii^#^' 




Monument to First Cavalry. 



( rummel's farm. 



FURTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTION, 

1889. 



The reponse to the State's invitation to attend the dedicatory exer- 
cises was so much larger than had been anticipated that the appro- 
priation of $10,000 proved to be insuflficient. The Legislature, 
accordingly, on March 13th, 1889 (Pamph. Laws, p. 52), appropriated 
the further sum of $9,759.95 to defray the expenses of the dedication. 
They also provided for the appointment of three Commissioners, to hold 
office for three years, " to see that the monuments erected to the mem- 
ory of New Jersey soldiers at Gettysburg, and the grounds around 
each, are properly improved and cared for," and $1,000 annually was 
appropriated for this purpose. Under this act the Governor appointed 
William H. Corbin, of Elizabeth ; Colonel E. L. Stratton, of Mullica 
Hill, and Dr. George T. Ribble, of Milford. 

In the same year (Pamph. Laws of 1889, pp. 268, 278), the Legis- 
lature provided for the placing in every school library and in the 
departments of the State government, copies of the work entitled 
" New Jersey Troops in the Gettysburg Campaign," by the late 
Samuel Toombs, of the Thirteenth New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. 

The Governor was also authorized to place upon the monument to 
Battery A a bronze tablet with a proper inscription to identify the 
same as " Hexamer's Battery of New Jersey " (Pamph. Laws, p. 52). 
This has been done under direction of the Governor. 

Some improvements and embellishments have been made by the 
Commissioners under the act of 1889, and the monuments and 
grounds have been kept in order. At the present time they show no 
signs of any deterioration. 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX A. 



DEED AND UNDERTAKING CONCERNING SITES FOR 
MONUMENTS. 

To all to whom these presents shall come "The Gettysburg Battle-field 
Memorial Association " send greeting : 
Whereas, By act of the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, 
approved April thirtieth, a. d. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, The 
Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association was made a body cor- 
porate and politic, capable in law to do all such things as are incident to 
a corporation ; the object of which Association was declared to be " to 
hold and preserve the battle-grounds of Gettysburg, on which were 
fought the actions of the first, second and third days of July, anno 
domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, with the natural 
and artificial defenses, as they were at the time of said battle, and by 
such perpetuation, and by such memorial structures as a generous and 
patriotic people may aid to erect, to commemorate the heroic deeds, 
the struggles and the triumphs of their brave defenders ; " and in 
furtherance of said object the Association has been by said act, and 
the several amendments thereto, granted ample power to acquire by 
gift, purchase or devise, or by the use of the State's power of con- 
demnation in the exercise of its right of eminent domain, all such 
lands as may be necessary or convenient to promote and accomplish 
the object of its incorporation ; and whereas, by the aforesaid act, the 
said Association has power " to inclose and perpetuate said grounds 
and defenses, to keep them in repair and a state of preservation, to 
construct and maintain ways and roads, to improve and ornament the 
grounds, and to erect and promote the erection by voluntary contri- 
butions of structures and works of art and taste thereon, adapted to 
designate the spots of special interest, to commemorate the great deeds 
of valor, endurance and noble self-sacrifice, and to perpetuate the 
memory of the heroes of the signal events which render these battle- 
grounds illustrious ; " and whereas, the State of Pennsylvania, by its 



100 APPENDIX. 

said act, has declared that " the property of the said Association shalP 
not be subject to attachment or execution, and the lands acquired for 
the purposes of said Association, with its personal property and the 
improvements and appurtenances, shall be forever exempt from tax- 
ation, and also from the payment of an enrollment tax;" and whereaSy 
the State of New Jersey, by an act approved April twentieth, A. d. 
eighteen hundred and eighty-five, and a supplement thereto approved 
April twenty-seventh, a. d. eighteen hundred and eighty-six, has 
made provision for the erection of monuments upon said battle- 
grounds to mark the positions of the New Jersey regiments, batteries 
and brigades there engaged, and has appropriated to the said Associ- 
ation, " for the purchase and preservation of the battle-grounds, with 
the natural and artificial defenses of the same and the perpetuation 
thereof, three thousand dollars," to be paid upon the approval of the 
Commissioners hereinafter mentioned ; and whereas, in pursuance of 
said last-mentioned enactment, His Excellency Leon Abbett, Gov- 
ernor of the State of New Jersey, did appoint James N. Duffy, Gott- 
fried Krueger and William H. Corbin, citizens of that State, to be 
Commissioners to carry out the provisions of said enactment; and they 
have located the lines and positions hereinafter described, which were 
occupied by the respective New Jersey regiments and batteries, and 
are desirous that the necessary lands be obtained for the erection of 
monuments thereon, and that proper assurances be given by said Get- 
tysburg Battle-field Memorial Association that said lands shall be 
secured, held and preserved : 

Now know ye, that The Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Associ- 
ation, in consideration of the premises and of the said sum of three 
thousand dollars, lawful money of the United States, to them paid by 
the State of New Jersey upon the approval of said Commissioners, at 
or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt 
whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, covenanted and agreed, 
and by these presents do grant, covenant and agree, to and with the 
State of New Jersey, that the State of New Jersey may erect monu- 
ments, marks and shafts upon the lines and positions hereinafter speci- 
fied, in commemoration of the services of the commands hereinafter 
stated, to wit : 

First New Jersey Cavalry. — At a point in line fence between Rum- 
mel and Hemler (now Schaeffer) farms, about 1,000 yards west of the - 
Cavalry shaft ; position indicated by a stake numbered *' 60." 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 101 

Thirteenth New Jersey Infantry. — At a stake marked " 61," stand- 
ing in the woods south of Spangler's spring in the angle of a line of old 
breastworks facing Rock creek. 

Twelfth New Jersey Infantry. — At or near a stake marked " 63," 
standing on the site of the Bliss barn, and near the monument of the 
Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry. 

First, Second, Third and Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry (all of 
^' Kearny's First New Jersey Brigade "). — At or between the points 
indicated by the stakes marked " 43," " 46," " 47," being points to 
southeast of a stone wall inclosing two sides of a field, about 100 
yards southeast of the house of George Weikert, due north of Little 
Round Top. If but one monument is erected for the entire brigade, the 
positions of the several regiments are to be marked by suitable stones. 

Fourth New Jersey Infantry. — Of same brigade last mentioned. 
To have a monument or mark in Spangler's field, about 150 yards 
southeast of Powers' hill, at stake marked "41." 

Eleventh New Jersey Infantry. — At a stake marked " 64," on east 
side of Emmittsburg road, near Smith (formerly Essex) house. 

Fifth New Jersey Infantry. — At a stake marked, on east side of 
Emmittsburg road, between Smith and Sherfy houses. 

Sixth New Jersey Infantry. — At or near a stake marked " 58," 
about 100 yards northeast of Devil's Den. 

Seventh New Jersey Infantry. — At or near a stake marked "67," 
about 200 yards north of the monument of the Ninth Massachusetts 
Battery, which is on the road running from Peach Orchard to Round 
Top. This position is to be marked if the Association find it feasible 
to acquire the land ; otherwise, a position on the last-mentioned road, 
at the point where it was reached or most nearly reached by the left 
of the regimental line, is to be marked. 

Eighth New Jersey Infantry. — At or near a stake marked " 57," at 
extreme southerly corner of the Wheat- field. 

Battery A, First New Jersey Artillery. — At a stake marked, in 
•J€ar of position of Webb's brigade in third day's battle — to left of 



102 APPENDIX. 

Fitzhugh's battery. This position is a short distance to northeast of 
the famous Clump of Trees, towards which Pickett charged. 

Battery By First New Jersey Artillery. — At or near a stake marked 
" 68," about 50 yards north of the road from Peach Orchard to Round 
Top, and about 200 yards east of Emmittsburg road. 

And the said Association doth covenant and agree that they now 
hold, by a title in fee-simple, the lands so required for some of the 
said commands, and that it will with all practicable speed, and within 
the present year, secure a similar title to all such required lands not 
now held by it ; and that it will provide ground for the monuments 
to be erected by the State of New Jersey, either by opening avenues 
along the lines of battle in which the monuments are to stand, or by 
the purchase in fee-simple of a plot of ground for each monument, 
which plot shall contain not less than four hundred square feet, with' 
a perpetual right of way to the public from some neighboring high- 
way to such plot. 

And The Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association doth further 
covenant with the State of New Jersey that upon the completion of 
said monuments, marks and shafts it will take the same into its charge 
and care, to the end that the same may be protected, preserved and 
maintained perpetually, and will keep the same, and the grounds 
whereon they stand in its ownership and possession forever, and will 
forever preserve and maintain the same as memorials to the troops in 
whose honor the same are erected, according to the true intent and 
meaning of the said enactments of the Stales of Pennsylvania and 
New Jersey. 

In testimony whereof. The Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Asso- 
ciation hath caused its common seal to be hereto affixed, and these 
presents to be signed by its President and Secretary the twenty-second 
day of September, anno domini one thousand eight hundred and 
eighty-six. 

D. A. BUEHLER, 
[l. s.] Vice President. 

Attest : 

Jno. M. Krauth, 
Secretary. 



APPENDIX B. 



EXTRACTS FEOM LETTERS AND MEMORANDA OF INTEREST FROM 
OFFICERS AND MEN ENGAGED IN BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

The Commission in the course of their duties received a large num- 
ber of letters from survivors of the battle. A few of them relate 
incidents which are interesting, and which may have some historical 
value. It has therefore been thought proper to append extracts from 
sych letters to the Commissioners' report. 

SIXTH KEGIMENT. 

Lieutenant Benjamin D. Cooky, of Company K (afterwards Cap- 
tain of Company I), writes as follows January 18th, 1888 : 

* * * "Our brigade, the Second New Jersey Volunteers, 
arrived at Gettysburg about ten o'clock A. m. on the morning of the 
second of July, after a forced march of some twelve miles, from 
Emmittsburg, Md., and after we had passed the Peach Orchard, 
which I remember well, I heard our pickets firing on our left. Soon 
after, the Southern army crossed the Emmittsburg road, and we just 
got in in time to save a clash together. Then we filed to the right 
and halted in a grove near Mr. Trestle's house, and about three o'clock 
we had orders to fall in, and we moved out of the grove about 100 
yards to a corn-field and halted, regimental front, with the Sixth 
Regiment in front ; then Gen. Sickles and staff halted in front of us, 
and Gen. Meade and staff halted with Sickles ; then our batteries 
were engaged with the Rebs at the Peach Orchard in front of us. 
Then a battery on our left opened on the two staffs and our brigade, 
and we got orders to lie down, when a battery came in our front and 
drew their fire from our brigade, and then we were moved off to the 
left, to the cover of a woods. Then the Sixth and Seventh New Jersey 
and the One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania Regiment, under 



104 APPENDIX. 

Col. Burling in command, were engaged near Rose barn, and the 
Sixth and Eighth Regiments, in command of Lieut.-Col. Gilkyson, 
were ordered to support the left flank. The Sixth Regiment was in 
front, and by the left flank we marched through the Wheat-field. 
The wheat was up to our chins, and we could just see over the top of 
it, when we came near a battery in corn, to right flank and to the 
woods, and engaged the Rebs in the woods, and the battery was firing 
just over our heads. When the Rebels' fire slackened we were ordered 
over the fence, and at left oblique through the point of woods to an 
open space, and over another fence, down in the hollow where those 
large boulders are. Then we engaged the Rebs again, diagonally 
across Plum run (the Eighth Regiment was not with us then). The 
regiment was engaged there some time, and our batteries were hotly 
engaged on Little Round Top and in our rear all the time. We 
remained there until our line of battle gave way on our right flank, 
and the Rebs gave us a flank fire. With one in front and flank it 
was hot for us, with no troops on our left, except those on Round 
Top, and the Rebs on our right. The Lieutenant-Colonel gave the 
order to fall back, which we had to do in a hurry or be taken pris- 
oners ; and when we got back to the point of woods the Fifth Corps 
was marching by the right flank, coming by way of Little Round 
Top. They came to a left-face and engaged the Rebs at once, and the 
conflict was terrible there that day." * * * 



SEVENTH EEGIMENT. 

W. R. Hillyer, Captain of Company K, wrote the following letter, 
dated November 2d, 1887 : 

* * * " General Graham is exactly right in reference to the 
position of the regiment when it halted from the charge across the 
field and engaged the enemy, and where Colonel Francine was 
wounded. There stands in Trostle's lane, on the fence line, a soli- 
tary tree, just about where the proposed avenue crosses it. When 
the artillery broke through our regiment in going into this lane, on 
their way to the rear, they forced the four right companies to the 
other side of the line, and the blockade of the artillery, which was 
only temporary, prevented them from rejoining us until after we fell 
back from the charge. This left my company the right of the line, 






-% 



Monument to Seventh Infantry. 

( TROSTLE'S FIELD, NEAR PEACH ORCHARD.) 



GETTYSBUHG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 105 

•as well as being the color company. At the moment Colonel Fran- 
cine gave us the order to forward, we were standing in line exactly 
parallel to the lane, the right (my company) exactly under the single 
tree above mentioned, and when we charged it was upon a line per- 
pendicular to the lane. We advanced about half way across the 
•field towards the Rebel lines, then lying in the road to Little Round 
Top. 

"At this point (the farthest reached by the Seventh) we were upon 
•a line with the Second New Hampshire, of our brigade, where they 
made their last stand in falling back from the Peach Orchard. This 
will establish our position at nearly the exact point as it is possible to 
<}ome at it. * * * General Graham is in accord with my careful 
observations. I had a perfectly distinct recollection of the tree before 
we charged, and in falling back, before I was wounded, I was hasten- 
ing to the same tree as a rallying point for the broken remnants of 
our little band. * * * The tree is there to this day. * * * 
If there is any one of my experiences during the war more firmly 
'fixed in my recollection than another, it is this last movement of the 
Seventh at Gettysburg, just immediately before and after I was 
wounded. I have lived over and over again every incident of our 
position and action that day a dozen times every year for the last 
twenty- five years." * * * 



ELEVENTH REGIMENT. 

General Robert McAllister furnished the following statement, the 
-first part being written in 1888, the latter part being quoted from his 
official report of the action : 

" On our march northward we halted at Emmittsburg about noon 
on July 1st, and were taking a cup of coffee when a courier arrived 
in hot haste with the thrilling news that * a battle was in progress 
=at Gettysburg, Gen. Reynolds killed, and orders for us to move at 
once.' Hastily we look up our line of march for the field of battle, 
Gen. Humphreys at the head of our division. Night closed about us, 
but on we marched. In the darkness, our division, whether by acci- 
dent or duplicity of the guide, I cannot say, took the wrong road, 
;and we had to retrace our steps, which caused some delay. We then 
moved rapidly forward to what became a battle-field the next day, 



106 APPENDIX. 

arriving there about midnight on the morning of July 2d. Our 
men lay down on the field and rested till daylight. Had scarcely any 
rations. The morning was spent by our whole army in forming 
lines of battle, and had we thrown up temporary breastworks, as was 
the practice of our army in the later days of the war, we would 
have saved one-half of our men who fell that day. 

"On the afternoon of July 2d, 1863, when the Rebels opened the 
second day's battle of Gettysburg with that heavy artillery fire on 
us, and our artillery replied, it was the grandest artillery duel that I 
witnessed during the war. We were in front and to the left of the 
Apple Orchard, at the Smith house, along the Emmittsburg road. 
Not being actively engaged, I ordered my men to lie down during 
this artillery-firing. The shot and shell played over our heads and 
through the apple trees in our rear, carrying the branches through 
the air like chaif. The gunners and horses of our artillery were 
rapidly cut down. Could I have left out of mind the destruction of 
life I would have considered the scene grand beyond description. So 
exciting was it all that I could not keep lying down, but had to jump 
up and watch the grand duel. In about half an hour the artillery 
ceased and the first charge of the Rebel infantry was made in my 
front. We prepared to receive the charge. As the Rebels advanced 
our pickets came into our lines. I ordered my men to fire. I was 
on the right of my regiment. We received the charge. While 
passing from the right to the center of my regiment I was severely 
wounded by a Minie ball passing through my left leg and a spent 
shell undermining and injuring my right foot. 

" I did not see a man of my regiment (the Eleventh New Jersey 
Volunteers) flinch or show the least cowardice under that terrific 
cannonading, or the fierce charges which we met. The Rebels charging 
us were Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade." 

In a letter dated at Belvidere, N. J., October 4th, 1887, General 
McAllister says ; * * * « 'pjjg right of my regiment, the Elev- 
enth New Jersey, was just behind the house on the Emmittsburg 
road, and in front of the Apple Orchard. I would be in favor of 
putting it [the monument] just on the east side of the road, but by 
doing so it would be on ground a little in front of my position, 
though not much. But a little from the road would be the proper 
place, as my line of battle was there, and being the place where the 
hard fight was, and Where so many of my brave boys lost their lives^ 




Tablet to Twelfth Infantry. 

(CODON'S FARM, ON THE SITE OF TH5 BLISS BARN.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. lOT 

I was wounded and fell near and in front of the apple tree, some 
distance from the right. I was going rapidly on foot towards the 
center when I fell." * * * 

In a letter dated October 8th, 1887, General McAllister says: 
* * * « jyjy. right was just behind the house, quite close to it. 
If the house remains, then the monument ought to be a little in from 
the fence, towards the apple tree spoken of." * * * 

TWELFTH EEGIMENT. 

Major John T. Hill (now deceased), who commanded the Twelfth 
Regiment at Gettysburg, in speaking of the position of the regiment, 
wrote as follows (letter of June 7th, 1890) : 

" My attention has been called by Mr. Corbin to an attempt of 
the One Hundred and Eleventh New York Volunteers to place a 
battle monument upon the line of the Twelfth New Jersey Volun- 
teers. As commanding officer of the Twelfth New Jersey Volun- 
teers at the battle of Gettysburg, I protest against any such usur- 
pation. The Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers occupied the entire 
line between the flanking-stones now marking their position, from 
the afternoon of the second of July, 1863, to the close of the battle,, 
and shared it with no other organization. To place any other monu- 
ment upon that line will destroy the accuracy of the historical event 
these monuments are intended to record. It will be unjust to the 
gallant regiment that held that line under the hottest kind of fire,, 
and should not be permitted under any circumstances." 

THE BLISS BAKN AFFAIE. 
Major Hill wrote as follows, December 8th, 1886 : 

" In compliance with your request, I will endeavor to supplement 
my official report of the capture of the Bliss barn at Gettysburg 
with my recollections of what took place on that occasion. I am 
sorry that I have not the faculty of describing more fully and 
graphically the event. 

" The Bliss barn was a large building ; the lower story of stone^ 
the upper of wood. It was located just beyond our picket line and 
between our lines and the enemy's. It affi^rded a good shelter for 



108 APPENDIX. 

sharpshooters. Any mounted officer riding along our lines was 
shot at continually, and this rendered the making of correct observa- 
tions of our front difficult and extremely hazardous. The charge 
made at 5 p. m. on the 2d of July was most gallantly done. 

" The regiment was lying on the ground in the edge of the Zaigler 
woods. General Hancock rode up to where our brigade commander, 
Colonel Smyth, of the First Delaware, was standing. I was close 
by Colonel Smyth. General Hancock called upon Colonel Smyth 
for 100 men to take that barn, and Colonel Smyth, turning to me, 
said : ' Major, send 100 men and take it.' I called upon the first 
four companies of the regiment, estimating them at 100 men, and in 
less time than it takes you to read this, they were running by the 
:flank down an obscure lane, across which were two gates. No halt 
was made to fire, and in spite of a loss of 40 per cent, of the force 
that started on the charge, the men went into the basement of the 
barn unchecked. When in the barn they had the enemy at their 
mercy, capturing 92 prisoners. 

" The enemy brought up a brigade to retake the building, and 
during the night the detachment of the Twelfth New Jersey Volun- 
teers was withdrawn. The next morning another detachment of the 
Twelfth New Jersey was sent to capture this barn, which they again 
did, without loss.* The Twelfth were relieved by another regiment, 
and during the morning the barn was burned. 

" There is some controversy about who fired the barn. My recol- 
lection of the event is this : Gen. Hays, commanding our division, 
said to me, ^ that barn costs us too many men, it must be destroyed,' 
and rode directly to the battery on the left of our brigade, Arnold's- 
Rhode Island, I think. Immediately thereafter several shells were 
fired by this battery into the barn and in a few minutes it was ablaze. 
It was not long after the burning of the barn when the assault of 
Pickett's division was made on our front and we were kept too busy 
to pay any further attention to the barn. 

" Had I realized on that day the grandeur of the assault and the 
important results of its repulse I would have made memoranda 
covering many of the interesting events, but at that time I cared little 
about history, and thought it most soldierly to make my reports with 
brevity and a simple record of our losses." 



*This is an error. The detachment sent forward on the morning of the third of 
July suffered a number of casualties. See letters of White, Avis and others. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 109 

Major Sill, when asked to suggest an inscription for the tablet to 
commemorate the capture of the Bliss house and barn, answered as 
follows, April 25th, 1887 : 

* * * ''I am not gifted at making inscriptions and am at a 
loss to know what should be put upon the stone marking the place 
where the Bliss barn stood. I claim that a portion of the Twelfth 
New Jersey Volunteers captured the barn when it was full of Con- 
federate soldiers, and that they were unassisted in so doing ; and that 
when other troops occupied it they did so without opposition. I also 
claim that it was fired by Arnold's Battery, by order of General Hays. 
These claims I believe are disputed by a Pennsylvania Colonel and 
by the officers of the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteers. * * * 

Lieutenant William E. Potter, of Company G (afterwards Captain 
and Brevet Major), in an oration delivered at Gettysburg May 26th, 
1886, gave the following account of the charges on the Bliss barn : 

" In the height of the action upon the left, at 5 p. m. , General 
Hays directed Colonel Smyth to dislodge the reserve of the enemy's 
skirmishers, who were posted in the barn of the Bliss farm, in our 
front, in such manner as to severely annoy us by their fire. Colonel 
Smyth called upon the Twelfth New Jersey Regiment, and upon the 
whole regiment rising to volunteer, indicated that a detachment of 
four companies would be sufficient for the work in hand. The barn 
mentioned was of brick, was 587 yards from our line, and it and the 
line of our advance were so completely covered by the fire of the 
enemy's skirmishers and artillery that it was known that serious loss 
must result from our attack. Major John T. Hill detaches for this 
service Companies B, H, E and G, under command of Captain Samuel 
B. Jobes, the ranking officer. 

" The column moves out by the flank to the right of the Bryan 
barn, comes by company into line, as the rear clears the wall, and 
under the eyes of the whole brigade, and of part of Gibbons' division 
and of Robinson's division, of the First Corps, upon our right, begins 
its march. The artillery of Hill's corps opens upon it at once, the 
enemy's skirmishers pour in an annoying fire, his reserve from the 
shelter of the barn thins its ranks. Captain Horsfall, of Company E^ 
is killed, and 40 men out of the 200 are stricken down, but there is 
no wavering in that brave column of Jerseymen. 



110 APPENDIX. 

" Bringing their arms to the right shoulder, and taking the double- 
quick, with ringing cheers they burst through the enemy's skirmish 
line with the might of a giant, and in one bold mass close down upon, 
surround and capture the Bliss barn, with the enemy's picket reserve 
of 92 men and 7 officers, and bringing their prisoners with them, 
regain our lines. 

" No bolder attack was made upon that well-contested field, and it 
deservedly gave our regiment a reputation for gallantry which it never 
lost. Still later, as night is closing in, the First Brigade of the division 
becomes closely engaged, under the most brilliant circumstances. 

" The enemy having re-occupied the Bliss barn, at 7: 30 a. m., it 
was again charged and captured by Companies D, C, K, F and A, of 
our regiment, under command of Captain Richard S. Thompson. 
Lieutenant Trimble was wounded in this attack. Later in the morn- 
ing this barn was a third time charged and captured by four companies 
of the Fourteenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, commanded by 
Captain Moore. Finally, by direction of General Hays, the barn was 
fired and everything inflammable about it was consumed." 

Captain Henry F. Chew, of Company I (afterwards Major and 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment), writes February 2d, 1887 : 

* * * " Will try to give you some account of the charge on 
the Bliss barn at Gettysburg. Most of our regiment have forgotten 
that my company (Company I of the Twelfth New Jersey Volun- 
teers) occupied the barn and house, as well as the yards, before the 
charges were made. A New York regiment was stationed there with 
a portion of their regiment on the skirmish line. The First Dela^vare 
was ordered to relieve the New York regiment, and my company was 
detailed to go with them and act as a reserve, and to support them in 
case of an attack. We soon reached the barn and house, the First 
Delaware going a little beyond the house and barn ; a portion of my 
company was placed along the garden fence and some at the barn ; 
some others were on the skirmish line. We remained here until the 
afternoon about 4 o'clock, when the Rebels had strongly reinforced 
their skirmish line. This was not done at once, but a few men were 
sent down at a time, so that our attention would not be attracted 
until they had enough men to drive us away from the barn. Being 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. Ill 

on a portion of our line, I observed their movements and reported 
them to the Lieutenant- Colonel of the First Delaware, and advised 
him to send to our Generals and report what we had seen, and ask 
for more men to reinforce us. I was told by him that he understood 
his business, and I was under him, and he would take all the responsi- 
bility. He being my superior officer I had to submit. It was some- 
where near four o'clock when the Rebels advanced on us. I was on 
the line and told my men to stand. We stood as long as^e could, 
but we were soon compelled to leave and rejoin the line of battle. 
The Lieutenant-Colonel was dismissed for not reporting and holding 
the line. The Rebels soon placed their sharpshooters in the barn, 
and were shooting men and officers in the line of battle. General 
Hays then ordered four companies of our regiment to charge on the 
barn and capture it, which they did, and did it nobly, capturing more 
Rebels than there was of our men on the charge. These companies 
lost a number of men and officers. They were in turn driven from 
the barn by the Rebels. This took place on the second of July. On 
the third of July four more companies were ordered to charge on the 
barn, which they did, and captured more prisoners. These charges 
were witnessed by a large portion of our army. The companies that 
went on the charges deserve the highest praise. I suppose other 
members of the regiment have written you and given you the names 
of the companies that were on the charge. My company was not of 
the number, as we had done our duty on the second of July, which 
relieved us from that work." * * * 

Sergeant James White, letter of November, 1886 : 

* * * "In the second charge * * * j ^gg helping off a 
wounded comrade and could not go back with the main body. 
* * * As we came 'into the barn — it was the lower or barn- 
yard side — I ran through to one of the back windows, thinking to 
get a shot at them as they were back in the orchard, having left by 
the rear as we came in at the front, and as I pointed my gun out of 
the window, a Reb, who had stayed a little too long and was backed 
up against the wall alongside the window, held up his hands and 
said : * Don't shoot, I'll give up.' He accepted the invitation to 
€ome in through the window without any hesitation, but I think 
that he frightened me almost as much as I did him, for I did not see 
him until he spoke. At this point, Abel K. Shute, a member of my 



112 APPENDIX. 

company, was shot through both knees, and lay in the open door, ois 
the floor above, exposed to their fire from the orchard, and calling 
loudly for help, so I turned the prisoner over to Sergeant H. M. 
Avis, and went to his assistance." 

Sergeant Frank M. Riley, of Company K (afterwards Captain)), 
writes the following account, taken partly from a letter Written soon 
after thf battle : 

"Fall in, Companies B, H, E and G ! Right dress! Front T 
Right face ! Forward march ! File left ! Battalion into line, 
march ! ! ! Guide right ! Forward, double-quick, march ! ! t 
Hurrah ! Hurrah ! ! HURRAH ! ! ! 

" Such were the commands given towards the close of the after- 
noon of July 2d, 1863, to the four center companies of our regiment, 
whose object was to drive out or capture those Rebel sharpshooters 
occupying the Bliss barn in our immediate front, who were making 
themselves very obnoxious and annoying by picking off our officers 
wherever they exposed themselves. Ere starting, it was noised along 
our line, both right and left, that the Twelfth New Jersey was ta 
make a charge, and as we moved forward for the attack from behind 
the stone fence, we were the observed of many ' Yanks ' on the one 
side, and soon an object of interest to the ' Rebs ' on the other. On 
we went, undaunted and unchecked, in the face of a murderous fire 
poured into our ranks, both from their sharpshooters and their re- 
serve skirmishers, who occupied the barn and dwelling. When 
within a short distance of the barn, our column halted, delivering^ 
their fire, then charged, with a cheer, surrounding first the barn and 
then the house, the Rebels not surrendering until we were pouring 
into the doors and windows, and almost meeting them face to face,, 
did they cry out for quarters : ' We surrender, Yanks — don't, don't 
shoot ! ' Our charging column was about 200 strong. Those left are 
now seen returning, and with cheer after cheer they re-enter our own 
lines, bringing with them as prisoners 83 Rebel privates and 7 com- 
missioned officers, and well do I remember the exclamation of 
Orderly Sergeant of B Company as he came in over the stone fence, 
his arm shattered at the shoulder, with the other leading a Rebel, 

exclaiming : ' The shot me after I had entered 

the barn door. I saw him raise his gun and fire at me, and had he 
not disabled me, the , I would have pinned him to 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 113 

the wall where he stood.' Nay, too, here is another who has made 
a capture on his own account. He holds him in his own hands with 
a firm grasp — a chicken — and that ' chick ' never saw the rising of 
another sun. This charge of the Twelfth was quite a ' feather in 
their cap,' and served to further strengthen that feeling already 
strong in the brigade towards the Twelfth, and was exceedingly grati- 
fying to General Smyth, who commanded the brigade, as well as to 
General Alex. Hays, who commanded the division and ordered the 
charge. 

" The morning of the ever-memorable third of July, 1863, dawned 
bright upon us behind the stone wall, full of many anxious misgivings 
as to what the day would lead to, and what would be developed by it. 
Soon the Rebels were making themselves again very annoying by 
their sharpshooters from the Bliss barn, which they had re-occupied 
for the same purpose as the day before. About nine o'clock, Gen, 
Smyth received orders ' to clean out that barn again.' Over he comes 
to the Twelfth, and says, ' Twelfth, you all wanted to go yesterday. 
Now, that barn is ordered to be cleaned out again, so the rest of you 
can go this time.' This struck the remaining six companies of the 
regiment, as follows: Companies F, A, I, D, C and K. We were 
soon in line, and moved out in same formation as they in the after- 
noon before, save in the charging we did not come ' By battalion into 
line,' thereby not exposing so much front to their fire. On we went with 
a cheer, up to and into the barn, the Rebs out to the rear, all escaping 
save one Major and a private. I can now see them running, until 
reaching a respectable distance they halted and commenced skirmish- 
ing. I, with some few others, mounted the steps leadirg to the mow; 
it was here we found one Rebel. We thrust our bayonets into the straw 
in the mow, exploring, thinking perhaps some might be therein secreted, 
but to no avail. I remember walking out on a joist, the flooring 
having been torn away, to a lattice window, looking towards the Rebel 
lines, where I had an excellent view, and saw a Reb officer trying to 
form and move forward a line of skirmishers. Only room for one to 
stand where I was. While I did the firing from there, others were 
loading and passing their guns to me. I had fired, perhaps, some 
half-dozen or more times, when we heard them calling us from 
below, 'Come down ! come down, quickly ! they are trying to capture 
us ; ' and sure enough, on getting down and out, there to our right 
could be seen coming what looked like a whole brigade. We had 



114 APPENDIX. 

tarried too loDg to make a direct return as we came, and they were 
too strong for us to make a successful resistance, and no Libhy for us, 
but by making a detour well to our right, and that hurriedly, under 
a shelling from Rebel batteries, we regained our own lines." 

Sergeant H. M. Avis writes as follows : 

* * * "As a member of Company F of the Twelfth, I was an 
active participant in one of those charges, and a warmly-interested 
eye-witness of the other one, and I am free to say that I enjoyed 
watching the first far more than I did participating in the second. 
To my mind, and I believe this feeling is fully shared by my com- 
rades, the nghing incident to the capture of the Bliss barn was the 
most important and certainly far more hazardous and fatal in its results 
to us as a regiment than the main engagement on the afternoon of the 
third, which figures so largely in history ; while the charge on the 
barn is lost sight of in history on account of paucity of num- 
bers. * * * 

" The Bliss barn was a large, two- story structure with basement, 
and was known in our vernacular as a double-decker. It was well 
supplied with windows, and from its position about midway between 
the main lines of the opposing armies, but held by the Rebels, afforded 
an excellent cover for them to keep up a constant and deadly fire on 
our exposed line of battle, our skirmish line in front being protected 
to some extent by the slight undulations of the ground. So great an 
annoyance was caused by this constant firing, that about five o'clock 
on the afternoon of the second. Gen. Hays directed Gen. Smyth to 
dislodge the reserve of the enemy's skirmishers who were posted in 
the Bliss barn. The Twelfth was selected for this work, and Major 
John T. Hill, commanding, selected Companies B, H, E and G, under 
command of Capt. Samuel B. Jobes, ranking officer, to do the work. 
The intervening space to be covered was comparatively level, so that 
from the moment of starting they were exposed to a deadly fire from 
the heavy line of skirmishers, and from the batteries on the hill 
beyond. Nothing daunted, they started forward with a cheer, and at 
a double-quick pace soon reach the objective point, quickly surround 
the barn, and completing their work, return, bringing with them as 
trophies of their prowess ninety-seven prisoners, and with a loss of 
some forty men in killed and wounded, which is a sufficient proof of 
the severity of the action in which they were engaged. 



GETTYSBURG BA.TTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 115 

" It was a mistake of the command making the first charge that the 
barn was not destroyed, as after their return to the main line it was 
quickly refilled by the enemy with an increased force, who opened a 
fusillade with increased vigor on our line, as if to punish us for the 
successful assault made on their stronghold. As the annoyance and 
loss • from the enemy's fire were even greater than before the first 
assault, it soon became evident that the work would have to be done 
over, and for this purpose, at about ten o'clock on the morning of the 
third, Companies D, C, K, A and F of the Twelfth, under command 
of Capt. Richard S. Thompson, of Company K, were called upon 
and willingly responded to perform the perilous work. I desire to 
say here that while the second charge on the barn was barren of 
results as far as the taking of prisoners was concerned, the advance 
and capture were attended with increased fatality, and that while we 
reached and fully occupied both the barn and the house, the Rebels 
escaped capture, with one single exception, by withdrawing to the 
orchard beyond the barn, just before we reached them, thus taking 
advantage of their former experience. 

" While the loss in the second attack was considerably greater than 
the first, owing to the fact of a heavier concentrated fire, there was 
no faltering, no hesitation and the ground was covered as before, at 
the double-quick pace. While I have not the official figures at hand 
t3 give the exact losses of the different companies in the two assaults 
made on the barn, I desire to speak particularly of Company F, to 
which I belonged. In making the charge we had four men killed 
outright, while in the main engagement with Pickett's division on the 
afternoon of the third we had but one man in our company killed 
outright, and yet we were in the hottest part of it and the ground on 
our front was certainly literally covered with the enemy's dead and 
wounded. 

" I especially desire to call your attention to this difference in losses 
as fully demonstrating the perilous nature of the second assault, and 
to bear out my statement in the beginning that the capture of the 
Bliss barn was more important to us as a regiment than any other 
part we took in the battle of Gettysburg." * * * 

Sergeant Azariah Stratton (afterwards Captain), of Company F, 
writes as follows (February 28th, 1887) : 



116 APPENDIX. 

* * * " The first position taken by the Twelfth was the right 
of the regiment rested on the Bryan house, Cemetery hill. At about 
nine o'clock a. m., July 3d, Companies F, A, I, B, and K, under 
command of Captain R. H. Thompson, were ordered to assault the 
Bliss barn, and drive out the Confederates who were picking oflP our 
artillerists along the Second Corps front. We moved by the right 
flank down to the Emmittsburg road, and there we formed in column 
by company, F in the advance. A, I, B and K following in the order 
named. As we cleared the road, the command ' double-quick ' was 
given. With the guns at a right shoulder shift, the boys started for 
the barn, which was four or five hundred yards in the front ; as we 
advanced over the brow of a slight elevation the Confederate skir- 
mishers (which were posted between us and the barn and parallel to 
our line of advance) opened on us, killing three of our company and 
wounding some others. Their fire seemed to stagger us for a moment, 
but we kept on and drove them back beyond the barn, we occupying 
it. Our object in coming to the barn was to destroy it, but through 
some misunderstanding it was not done at that time. Here Company 
F sustained another loss of one killed. After staying there perhaps 
half an hour the Confederate artillery was brought to bear upon us, 
and we commenced to fall back. We had left our wounded and dead 
scattered over the field, and as we fell back we gathered them up and 
took them back to the main line with us. • 

" So ended the assault of the Bliss barn. * * * 

* * * " I do not know the losses of the other companies, but 
think they were comparatively light. Our company being in the 
advance, the fire was concentrated on the head of the column. Our 
muster-roll on June 30th, 1863, was about thirty etfectives ; our losses, 
five killed ; wounded, unknown. I could tell incidents of the killed 
and wounded, but will simply give their names. Corporals William 
H. H. Stratton, Abel K. Shute, George W. Adams ; Privates William 
H. Johnson, John Albright. One, a brother of mine, was brought 
home and buried. 

" In looking back and thinking and fighting (in our minds) the old 
battles, I think that assault was the grandest and one of the pluckiest 
I was ever engaged in. We have men in our regiment who claim to 
have burnt that barn; they have just lately found it out. I know 
we are getting old. I will forbear. I don't know that what I have 
written is of any moment ; if it is, use it." * * * 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 117 

Sergeant Charles D. Lippincott, of Company F (afterwards Captain 
of Compauy B), writes, January 22d, 1887 : 

* * * " In our charge on the morning of the third, we went 
from the opening in the stone wall between the barn and Zeigler's 
grove, crossing the Emmittsburg pike, and over the ridge in straight 
line to the said barn. Although the buildings were full of Rebs, 
they had learned our ways, and got away quick. We captured but 
three. Of F Company, Lieutenant Trimble was wounded in the 
boot-leg, Private Geo, W. Adams was killed and Corporal H. H. 
Stratton was mortally wounded, just on top of the ridge — midway. 
Corporal A. Shute and Private W. H. Johnson were mortally 
wounded at the barn. Private Jas. K. Russell was severely wounded. 
We were young in war then, and as we had not been ordered to burn 
the buildings, and had cleared them of Rebs, we returned to our lines. 
An hour or two afterwards the Fourteenth Connecticut went down 
and burned the barn and house. This is the story as Company F 
took part. Apropos to this, Private Wm. H. Johnson's grave is 
marked on the headstone in the cemetery as ' Wm. H. Ray,' Com- 
pany F ; this should be changed to Wm. H. Johnson." * * * 

George R. Danenhower, of Company C, writes November 30th, 
1886: 

* * * a ^^g arrived on the battle-field about eight o'clock on 
the morning of the second of July. A part of our regiment was 
detailed to charge the Bliss barn that day, and part the next. The 
first charge made captured about ninety prisoners. The second 
charge, I think, we only captured two. When they found by their 
first day's experience what kind of metal ' Yanks ' were made of 
they got out while opportunity oifered. They escaped out of back 
doors, which were toward their line. The building was between 
their line of battle and skirmish line. We went out through our 
line of skirmishers and charged through theirs and on to the barn. 
They were using- the barn for sharpshooters, so you may readily see 
our position, fired upon by the enemy in front and on right and left. 
We lost quite a number in killed and wounded, I don't know the 
exact number, but do know that balls flew very thick, and quite a 
number of shells burst around us." 



118 APPENDIX. 

NEW JERSEY DAY AT GETTYSBURG, PA., JUNE 30th, 1888, AS SEEN 
BY ONE OF THE TWELFTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS. 

C A. Weidemann, M.D., late Hospital Steward, Twelfth New 
Jersey Volunteers, wrote : 

" The unprecedented and generous hospitality of the State of New 
Jersey, not only in erecting the monuments, but also in furnishing 
transportation to and from Gettysburg from all parts of New Jersey 
to the members of those organizations that took part in the battle of 
Gettysburg, on the occasion of the dedication of the monuments 
erected to mark the spots those organizations occupied during the 
battle, was largely accepted by the veterans, and by no one organiza- 
tion more largely than by the Twelfth Regiment, New Jersey Volun- 
teers. The efficient organization this regiment has maintained for 
many years as a ' Reunion Society ' enabled so many of the old 
veterans to be reached, and this was probably the cause so many 
responded to the liberal invitation. From information obtained by 
the writer he learned that about 250 orders for tickets had been issued 
to former members of the regiment ; efforts were made to verify this 
number by a canvass of the trains on the road to Harrisburg and 
Gettysburg, but the large number in attendance making it necessary 
to divide the train into three sections, rendered this rather uncertain ; 
by diligent inquiry, however, the names of 209 former members of 
the regiment were obtained, every one of whom participated in the 
battle or who had been previously incapacitated by reason of sickness 
or wounds. This list is attached to this paper and embraces field and 
line officers, non-commissioned staff and enlisted men. The writer is^ 
aware of many instances where but for the generosity of the State the 
men would have been unable ever to revisit Gettysburg ; from such, 
the expressions of gratitude and joy were frequent and heartfelt. 
Many, also, for the first time since the war, met their old comrades. 
To them the occasion was one peculiarly happy. None like the old 
soldiers enjoy these reunions with those by whose side they have 
marched and fought ; and when, after all these years, they were privi- 
leged to revisit the stirring scenes of a quarter of a century ago and 
participate in the ceremonies that marked the spot of the heroic 
dead by whose side they stood when they fell, it fails in language ta 
express the emotions that filled their hearts. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 119 

" Not only in the transportation, but also in the provision made for 
the comfort of the Veterans while in the camp in the ' Wheat-field/ 
nothing but commendation can be said — the provision of a cot for 
each man, and a blanket, also, was a thoughtful provision for their 
comfort that was heartily appreciated. The feeding of so many men, 
and at such a time, when so many other organizations were present at 
Gettysburg, was a problem to many, but happily the Quartermaster 
and commissary were equal to the occasion, and no reasonable being 
but what was abundantly satisfied. 

" The ceremonies at the dedication of the monument passed off very 
pleasantly. The eloquent address of Governor Green was thoroughly 
appreciated by the large number present. The presence of the First 
Regiment, National Guard, was a happy thought, not only for its edu- 
cational advantage as a lesson in patriotism, but for the pleasure it gave 
them. The presence of Governor Beaver, of Pennsylvania, and 
Confederate General Longstreet were incidents that will long live in 
the memories of those who witnessed the proceedings. The salute of 
thirty-eight guns was the occasion of many suggestions to ' lie down,' 
'get out of the road of them things,' and other equally humorous 
remarks, in view of the peaceful character of the salute. 

" Take it altogether, the 30th day of June will long be remem- 
bered by the veterans of New Jersey as a pleasant event in their 
lives, and by none more so than by the writer of this paper." 



NAMES OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IK THE DEDICATION SERVICES OF THE NEW 
JERSEY MONUMENTS, AT GETTYSBURG, PA., JUNE 30tH, 1888. 

Field and Staff Officers.— Col. J. Howard Willits, Lt.-Col. Henry 

F. Chew, Lt -Col. Jas. S. Kiger, Major E. M. Dubois, Capt. Chas. 
P. Brown, Capt. Lippincott, Capt. Slater, Capt. Geo. A. Bowen, Lieut. 
H. W. Gaskill, Lieut. Chas. P. Sickler, Capt. and Bvt. Major W. E. 
Potter, Lieut. Jas. White, Lieut. Azariah Stratton, Lieut. E. Griscom, 
Lieut. Troutman, Capt. N. M. Brooks, Lieut. Geo. A. Cobb, Capt. 

G. W. Swing, Drum Major John W. Bonnell, Hospital Steward C. A. 
Weidemann, Ass't Surgeon Samuel T. Miller, Ass't Surgeon Uriah 
Gilman, Capt. E. L. Stratton.— 23. 

Company A. — A. T. Lawrence, Chas. H. Terry, Jos. Mutta, A. 
Jones, F. R. Parvin, Barclay Gant, John A. Myers, Wm. H. Sayres, 
Jacob Dehart, Martin Schnitzler, J. R. Stewart, J. J. Boon, Dan'I 



120 APPENDIX. 

Smalley, Wm. M. Walters, John McQuiltoo, Andrew Peirce, James 
Lamb, James E. Ludwig, Joseph Morgan, D. S. Clark, Joseph C. 
Watson, E. S. Edwards, Chas. P. Mills, Joseph Wharton, S. R. 
Sithens, Chas. Peterson, Jos. Burroughs, Wm. R. Chew. — 28. 

Company B. — S. Mattson, Lewis C. Sparks, T. G. Bunting, George 
H. Rhubart, Clark Champion, Chas. H. Letts, Thos. M. Giffbrd, S. 
Saidt, Frank Kelly, Shreve Carter, A. H. GifFord, Geo. W. Clark.— 12. 

Company C. — S. Frasington, Wm. S. Woodward, Isaac Haines, 
Virgil Willets, George Danenhower, Joseph Mathias, Chas. Danen- 
hower, James Atkinson, James Dilks, George H. Sanders, Thos. J. 
Sprowl, John R. Haines, George Dunkel, George Wood, Thos. Mc- 
Manus, E. Middleton, Joseph Stapes, James Branson. — 18. 

Company D. — Geo. W. Nickum, Henry Smith, Christian Vechan, 
S. L. Latcham, Joseph Bassett, John Kite, Joseph Kite, Wm. H. 
Swift, Joseph A. Gant, Isaac D. Mayhew, Daniel Richmond. — 11. 

Company E. — W. H. Brooks, Chas. Sullivan, Thos. A. Prickett, 
Samuel E. Farrington, Edward S. Ellis, J. Asay, D. M. Southard, 
George Skirm.— 8. 

Company F. — W. H. Park, Isaac H. Saul, Joseph A. Test, John 
F. Meley, Geo. H. Duell, Jas. Ecret, John Tonkin, David Borton, 
Jos. W. Moore, Samuel Haines, Wm. Moncrief, Isaac Sickler, I. K. 
Horner, H. M. Avis, J. B. Hilliard, B. F. Mattison, Wm. B. 
Gleason, Geo H. Cole, Enos Hann, Samuel Iredell, J. L. White, 
Wm. P. Haines.— 22. 

Company G. — Nathan Parker, E. H. Pancoast, Isaac C. Randolph, 
Jno. L. Severn, Jas. M. Wilkins, Rob't Burk, John La Marr, Hiram 
Smith, W. H. Rodgers, Jeremiah Casto, D. E. Eldridge, F. Bleyler, 
Chas. E. Madara, John A. Doll, John B. Cary, Edward L. Brick, 
Arthur Stanley, Chas. D. Husbands. — 18. 

Company H. — J. P. Becket, John Carter, Enos Hann, El wood 
S. Dubois, Thos. J. French, R. R. Kates, T. H. Zane, Jas. Magee, 
John Lensfield, A. W. Wiley, Jos. Paul, E. S. Costell, I. A. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 121 

Dubois, Edw. Snellbaker, Harrison Snellbaker, C. H. Atkinson, John 
P. Dubois, D. H. Atkinson, Chas. String, A. C. Homan, John Nine- 
stell, S. H. Seran, John Shull, Chas. H. Pinyard, John Kille.— 25. 

Company I. — Jas. P. Stanton, Jos. Work, George Goodwin, Edward 
Bradway, Wm. Parsons, Preston Merriam, James Horner, I. M. 
Morton, Geo. P. Ogden, L. McPherson, T. D. Kane. — 11. 

Company K. — A. Myers, W. H. Dickinson, Asa A. Randolph, T. 
Bateman, Butler Newcomb, Jas. R. Rainear, Wm. Cole, Albert 
Walker, Wm. H. Bennet, C. 8. Padgett, Barney W. Gaskill, W. B. 
Hines, Sam'l Tomlinson, Amos S. Burt, Josiah Garrison, Edward M. 
Steward, Hiram Dew, C. O. B. Reilly, George McHenry, Henry 
Campbell, K. B. Spencer, Geo. Laws, Jno. Maxwell, J. H. Livingston, 
W. F. Moore.— 25. 

Unattached, — Henry Pearce, A. C. Hanson, Edward Black, Jas. 
Branson. — 4. 

HEXAMER'S BATTERY. 

First Lieutenant Augustine N. Parsons (afterwards Captain), who 
<5ommanded the battery at Gettysburg, writes from Summit, Tyler 
<50unty, Texas, June 2d, 1889: 

* * * " We arrived near Gettysburg early in the morning, and 
it being uncertain where General Lee's lines were, we were moved 
two or three times. In the meantime Captain Fitzhugh and myself 
rode down to Round Top, or near there, and from there we could see 
the Confederate cavalry away to the north. We then rode back to 
our batteries, and I was ordered to take position behind a stone wall 
and some large rocks, which was about a quarter of a mile in the rear of 
what afterwards proved to be the fighting-ground, with orders to move 
at a moment's notice. Capt. Rigby, of the First Maryland Artillery, 
from Baltimore, occupied a rocky point a short distance north of me. 
I think that Gen. Slocum's command was in front of Rigby's battery. 
About the time the ball opened there were heard heavy volleys of 
musketry in front of Rigby, and he was ordered to shell the woods 
beyond the Federal lines. Rigby's battery was twelve-pound rifled 
guns. About the second shot he fired the recoil of the gun broke an 



122 APPENDIX. 

axletree. I happened up about that time (Gen. Meade was there)^ 
and told Capt. Rigby to have his gun dragged down into the hollow^ 
where my battery was, bring his traveling forge alongside of mine,^ 
behind a big rock, and with the two fires and the two smiths we 
could mend that axletree directly. It was done ; the men welded that 
axletree while the shells from the enemy's batteries went screaming 
over their heads like wild geese in a storm. In less than one hour 
that axle was mended, the gun remounted, hauled back into position, 
and blazed away as though nothing had happened ; and all this was 
done during an incessant roar of artillery. About this time an Aide 
from Gen. Hunt came with orders for me to get to the front as 
quickly as possible. I moved at a sharp trot, the men running beside 
the guns. The Aide-de-Camp pointed out the place, which was an 
open space on the ridge between Fitzhugh's and McGilvery's batteries. 
I got into position, unlimbered and got to work in less time that it 
takes me to write this. Pickett's division was then advancing. 
* * * As soon as I got into position the drivers all dismounted, 
save one. He rode the lead team on the first gun, which was at the 
right. I sat upon my horse, moving back and forward. The shell 
from the enemy's guns were bursting over us and all around us. 
Meanwhile the German driver sat in his saddle as coolly as he would 
at a table drinking a glass of lager and nibbling a piece of limberger, 
when a piece of a shell struck him in the side, about the pocket. I 
was looking right at him at the time. When struck, he raised in the 
saddle at least six inches, then settled back, dismounted and stood on his 
feet for about a second, and then fell. I at once ordered the Sergeant 
of his detachment to carry him to a tree that was a few yards to the 
rear and right, and get back to his gun as quickly as possible. The 
Sergeant did so, but said that he would like to take him to an old 
house a few rods farther to the rear and right, one that had been 
used as a hospital in the early part of the day, but at that time frag- 
ments of shell and bullets were rattling on the roof like hailstones. 
I told the Sergeant to take three men and a blanket, carry the 
wounded man to the house, and do it as quickly as possible and get 
back to his gun. I do not think the Sergeant and his men were 
gone more than ten minutes, when he returned and told me that the 
man was dead, and showed me his pocketbook, dripping with blood, 
which had been driven by the broken shell partly into his bowels. I 
opened the book, and as near as I remember there was $20 in bills> 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 123 

which were all stained with blood. The Sergeant told me that the 
man said that he had no relatives in this country, and that he wanted 
the Sergeant to take the money and divide it equally among the men 
of his detachment. I returned the pocketbook to the Sergeant and 
told him to get to his gun at once. The next was at the left gun, I 
thought the men were working the gun a little slow and rode up 
pretty cl?)se to it, when a shell from the enemy's battery burst in 
front and slightly above us. A small piece struck my horse, but did 
no harm. A piece struck an old German soldier, who was number 
two at the gun. He wheeled around on one foot and fell flat on his 
back. I jumped from my horse, bent down by him, called him by 
name. The only audible reply was, ' Water.' I called for a canteen, 
placed it to his lips. He took one swallow and was dead. I mounted 
my horse and ordered the dead man carried to the stone wall (which, 
as near as I can remember, was not more than 100 feet from my left 
gun), and covered with a blanket. This is the stone wall that you 
had reference to in your letter. My battery was on the north side of 
that, the wall being on my left. The old German soldier that I have 
just mentioned used to take care of my horses. He was a faithful and 
good man, and I was truly sorry to see him killed. Just before 
nightfall, and after the cannonading had ceased, I got the men to dig^ 
a grave on the north side of that stone wall. We wrapped the old 
soldier in his blanket and buried him as tenderly as we could, under 
the circumstances. It was not more than five minutes after the old 
German soldier was killed before a shrapnel burst over our heads and 
knocked down five men. None were killed. They were taken to 
the rear, and finally down to a barn under the hill, used as a hos- 
pital. One of the men was struck by a shrapnel bullet near the nose 
and just under the eye, which was torn out, the ball passing out near 
the ear. I considered him as good as dead, for to look at him (cov- 
ered in blood as he was) one would think half his head was blown 
away. Now comes the funny part of the story. This same man 
was sent to the hospital in Philadelphia. He got well, but of course 
was discharged from the service on account of disability. In due 
course of time I received a letter from the surgeon in charge, saying 
that the government furnished false eyes, but it was necessary that 
the applicant have a certificate from his commanding officer, stating 
that he lost his eye while in discharge of his duty. I at once for- 
warded the papers. He got the glass eye and his discharge, and was 



124 APPENDIX. 

a free man once more. In about three months I received another 
letter, asking for a duplicate of the original certificate. I sent the 
second certificate, but never learned whether he ever got the second 
glass eye." * * * 

In a letter written May 27th, 1889, Captain Parsons says : 

* * * « I think that you were correct in the location. * * * 
Fitzhugh's battery was immediately on right and Major McGilvery's 
batteries on left." 



APPENDIX C. 



INSCRIPTIONS ON THE MONUMENTS. 

FiEST Brigade. — Front: " First Brigade, New Jersey Volunteers, 
Brig.-Gen. Alfred T. A. Torbert (Ist, 2d, 3d, 4th and 15th regiments 
Infantry), 1st Brig., 1st Div., 6th Corps ; July 2, in reserve ; July 3 
and 4, detached from the Corps, held this position. 

" Erected by the State of New Jersey, A. D. 1888, in testimony of 
the patriotism, courage and patient endurance of her Volunteer 
Soldiers." 

Rear: " Kearny's New Jersey Brigade. Fought in all the import- 
ant battles of the Army of the Potomac from May, 1861, to the end 
of the War at Appomattox Court House in 1865. 

" Total strength, 13,805, including 10th, 23d and 40th regiments 
New Jersey Volunteers, which were attached to the Brigade." 

[The position of the Fourth Regiment is also marked by a tablet 
with subjoined inscription. The tablet stands at the cross-roads on 
George Spangler's farm, one mile to the rear of the brigade monu- 
ment] : 

"4th N. J. Vols., Train Guard— Provost Guard, July 2, 3, 1863." 



Battery A. — " Hexamer's New Jersey Battery. Commanded in 
this battle by First Lieutenant Augustine N. Parsons. Battery A, 1st 
New Jersey Artillery, from its position in reserve S. W. of Powers' 
Hill, galloped into action at 3 P. M., July 3, 1863. Fired 120 
rounds shrapnel at Pickett's column, and then 80 rounds shell at 
a battery in left front Losses, killed, 2 ; wounded, 7. Position in 
action, 45 yards E. of this stone. Mustered in, August 12, 1861. 
Mustered out, June 22, 1865. Engaged in 30 battles. Erected by 
the State of New Jersey, 1888." 



126 APPENDIX. 

Fifth Infantry. — " Fifth New Jersey Volunteers. Col. William 
J. Sewell, 3d Brig., 2d Div., 3d Corps, July 2, 1863. The regiment 
first held the skirmish line 400 yards to the front and left of this spot, 
and afterwards took position in the line of battle here. Losses, killed, 
18 ; wounded, 60 ; missing, 16 ; total, 94 — being one-half the number 
engaged. Mustered in, August 22, 1861. Consolidated with 7th 
Regt. N. J. Volunteers, Nov. 6, 1864. Eiagaged in 32 battles. 
Erected by the State of New Jersey, 1888." 



Sixth Infantry. — "6th New Jersey Volunteers, Lieut. Col. 
Stephen R. Gilkyson. 3d Brig. (Burling's) 2d Div. 3d Corps. 
Engaged here July 2, 1863, being detached from the Brigade. Sup- 
ported batteries on Cemetery Ridge July 3. Losses, killed, 5; 
wounded 29; missing 7; total 41. Mustered in Aug. 19, 1861. 
Consolidated with 8th Reg., N. J. V., Oct. 12, 1864. Engaged in 
30 battles. Erected by the State of New Jersey 1888." 



Seventh Infantry. — The die of the monument is octagonal. 
On the front is the figure " 7 " inclosed in a wreath. On the other 
seven sides the inscriptions are as follows : 1 . " 7th New Jersey Vols. 
July 2, 1863." 2. "3d Brig. 2d Div., 3d Corps." 3. "Mustered 
in Sept. 3, 1861. Mustered out July 17, 1865." 4. " First position 
300 yards N. E. of this. Heavily engaged there. Moved here to 
reinforce Graham's Brigade." 5. " Here Colonel Francine fell." 
€. " Killed 24 ; wounded 77 ; missing 13 ; total 114." 7. " Erected 
by the State of New Jersey, 1888." 



Eighth Infantry. — "8th New Jersey Volunteers, Col. John 
Ramsay, 3d Brig., (Burling's) 2d Div., 3d Corps. Engaged here 
July 2, 1863, being detached from the Brigade. Supported batteries 
on Cemetery Ridge July 3. Took into action 170. Killed 7 ; 
wounded, 7 officers, 31 men; missing 2; total 47. Mustered in 
Sept. 14, 1861. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Engaged in 38 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 127 

battles. Casualties, killed, 8 officers, 125 men ; wounded 38 officers, 
683 men ; died, 2 officers, 149 men ; total 905. Erected by the State 
of New Jersey 1888." 



Eleventh Infantry. — " 11th New Jersey Volunteers, Col. 
Robert McAllister, 1st Brig., 2d Div., 3d Corps, July 2, 1863. 
Mustered in August 18, 1862. Mustered out July, 1865. Engaged 
in 29 battles. This stone marks the spot reached by the right of the 
regiment, the left extending towards the southeast. The position was 
held under a severe fire, which killed or disabled nearly three-fifths 
of the regiment, including every officer present above the rank of 
lieutenant. Number engaged, 275 ; killed, 31 ; wounded, 109 ; miss- 
ing, 12; total, 153. Of the missing six are supposed to have been 
killed. Erected by the State of New Jersey, 1! 



Battery B. — " Clark's Battery — Battery B, 1st New Jersey Art., 
fought here from 2 until 7 o'clock on July 2, 1863, firing 1,300 
rounds of ammunition. Losses — Killed, 1; wounded, 16; missing, 
•3. Mustered in September 3, 1861. Mustered out June 16, 1865. 
Engaged in 26 battles, including all the important actions on the 
Peninsula, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
vania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomattox. Erected by the State 
of New Jersey, 1888." . 

Twelfth Regiment. — A monument was erected by the survivors 
of this regiment and their friends in May, 1886, on the position held 
by the regiment in the main line of battle of July 3d, to the south of 
the Bryan barn. The following is the inscription thereon : " In 
memory of the men of the Twelfth Regiment, New Jersey Infantry 
Volunteers, who fell upon this field July 2d and 3d, 1863, and who 
€lsewhere died under the flag, this monument is dedicated by their 
surviving comrades as an example to future generations. ' Buck and 
Ball, Calibre 69.' This regiment made two separate charges on the 
Bliss barn and captured it." The State Commission has, with the 
concurrence of the regimental association, added the following : 
*' Strength at muster in, 992; gained, 907; total, 1,899. Died in 
service — officers, 9 ; enlisted men, 252. Lost on this field, 2 officers, 



128 APPENDIX. 

20 men; wounded, 4 officers, 80 men ; missing, 9 ; total, 115." The 
State Commission also erected on the site of the Bliss house and barn,. 
600 yards to the front of the line of battle, a granite tablet with the 
following inscription : " Erected by the State of New Jersey, a. d. 
1888, in honor of the 12th Regiment of Volunteers, a detachment of 
which, in the afternoon of July 2, 1863, charged the Bliss house and 
barn here, capturing the enemy's skirmish reserve of 7 officers and 
92 men stationed therein. On the morning of July 3 another detach- 
ment of the regiment charged, capturing the buildings and one officer 
and one man, and driving back the skirmish reserve. The regiment 
lost in these charges 60 officers and men." 



Thirteenth Regiment. — " 13th N. J. Volunteers, 3d Brigade, 
1st Division, 12th Corps, reached this battle-field 5 p. m. July 1, 
1863, and with the brigade went into position on the north side of 
Wolf Hill. During the night occupied a position in support of 
Battery M, First N. Y. Artillery. July 2, in morning held position 
near Culp's Hill ; in afternoon marched to relief of Third Corps 
near Round Top ; at night returned to right of the army. July 3, 
occupied position marked by this monument supporting Second Mas- 
sachusetts and Twenty-seventh Indiana in their charge on Confederate 
flank. In the evening moved to extreme right to support Gregg's 
Cavalry. Killed and mortally wounded, 2; wounded, 19. Mus- 
tered in August 25, 1862. Discharged June 8, 1865. Engage- 
ments: Antietam, 1862; Chancellorsville, 1863; Gettysburg, 1863; 
Resaca, 1864; Cassville, 1864; Dallas, 1864; Kulp's Farm, 1864; 
Nancy's Creek, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, 1864; Siege of Atlanta, 
1864; March to the Sea, 1864; Siege of Savannah, 1864; Averys- 
boro, 1865 ; Bentonville, 1865. Total losses during the war : Killed 
or died of wounds, 75 ; died of disease and in prison, 43 ; wounded, 
244. Total, 362. This monument was dedicated on July 1, 1887." 



First Cavalry. — North front: " First New Jersey Cavalry, Major 
Myron H. Beaumont ; Ist Brigade, 2d Cavalry Division. July 3, 
1863. Erected by the State of New Jersey, 1888." 

West side: "Organized in September, 1861, and served to the end 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 129' 

of the War. Participated in 97 engagements. Lost : Killed in 
action, 79; died of wounds, etc., 170; died prisoners of war, 34; 
missing, supposed dead, 12." 

East side: "Fought here July 3, 1863, both mounted and dis- 
mounted, holding this position several hours. Assisted in repelling 
the charges of the enemy's cavalry." 

8outh side : " Officers killed in battle during the War : Col. Hugh 

H. Janeway, Lieut.-Col. Virgil Broderick, Maj. John H. Shelmire, 

Maj. James H. Hart, Maj. John H. Lucas, Capt. Thomas R. Haines, 

Capt. Moses H. Malesbury, Lieut. Alexander Stewart, Lieut. Edward 

E. Jemison, Lieut. John W. Bellis, Lieut. Voorhees Dye, Lieut^ 

Alanson Austin." 

9 



APPENDIX D. 



TABLE OF LOSSES IN NEW JERSEY COMMANDS AT THE 
BATTLE OF GETTYSBUEG. 





KILLED. 


WOUNDED. 


CAPTURED 
OR MISSING. 




COMMAND. 


05 

a> 

o 

o 


a 

CO 

'a 


o 

m 
o 


1 

1 


m 
o 


2 

"So 

'a 


6 
ti 

60 

bo 

< 


First Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols . ... 


2 
1 

3 

2 














Second Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols .... 
Third Eegf., N. J. Inf. Vols .. 

Fourth Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols 

Fifth Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols 

Sixth Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols 

Seventh Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols... 
Eighth Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols ... 
Eleventh Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols... 
Twelfth Eegt., N: J. Inf. Vols.... 
Thirteenth Ee^-t N J. Inf Vols 






6 
2 






6f 






2 








11 

1 
14 

7 

14 
21 

1 


5 

3 

10 

7 
9 
4 
3 


60 

29 

76 

31 

115 

79 

17 

3 

7 

7 

16 




16 
8 

13 
2 

12 
9 


94 

41 




114 




47 




153 




115 




21 


Fifteenth Eegt., N. J. Inf. Vols... 






3 


First Eegt., N. J. Cav. Vols 








7 


Battery A, First N. J. Artillery.. 
Battery B, First N. J. Artillery . 




2 
1 






9 






3 


20 

















For the First and Fourth Regiments, Infantry, the War Depart- 
ment has no record 9^ any losses, nor do the records of this office 
show any. 

State of New Jersey, ^ 

Office of Adjutant-General, V 

Trenton, November 30th, 1887. j 

A true transcript from the files of this office, as shown by jeturns 
from the War Department. 

WILLIAM S. STRYKER, 

Adjutant- General of New Jersey. 



APPENDIX E. 



OFFICIAL REPORTS OF NEW JERSEY COMMANDERS, OF 
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

Reports of Brigadier-Q-eneral A. T. A. Torbert, First Brigade, 
First Division, Sixth Army Corps. 

headquarters 
First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps, 

August 3d, 1863. 

Sir — I have the honor to report the following as the part taken 
by this brigade (First, Second, Third and Fifteenth New Jersey Vol- 
unteers) at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa. : 

On the night of July 1st, about 10 o'clock, the brigade started 
from near Manchester, Md., for Gettysburg. The distance by the 
route we marched was about 35 miles, and we made it by 4 p. m. on 
the 2d, only stopping an hour, about 1 p. m. on the 2d, to make 
coffee. We rested near the battle-field about two hours, when we 
were ordered to the left of the line, where we arrived about dark 
with only 25 men absent, and they came up by the morning. The 
brigade was held in this position in reserve till morning. 

Early on the morning of the 3d the brigade was detached from the 
corps and put in position in front and about the center of the line. 
This position we held till the morning of the 5th. 

In the meantime, the brigade was not actively engaged, except on 
the picket- line, where there were 11 enlisted men wounded, and 
during this time the brigade was under the orders of Major-General 
Newton, commanding First Corps. 

Much credit is due to Lieutenant- Colonel Weibecke, Second Eegi- 

ment. New Jersey Volunteers, in charge of the picket-line, and also 

Lieutenant Goldsmith, additional Aide-de-Camp (his assistant), for 

their good management of the same on July 3d. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

A. T. A. TORBERT, 

Brigadier- General of Volunteers. 
Oaptain H. R. Dalton, 

Assistant Adjutant- General, Division Headquarters. 



134 APPENDIX. 

HEADQUARTERS 

First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army CoEPSy 

August 13th, 1863. 

Sir — Agreeable to circular from Headquarters Army of the 
Potomac of August 13th, I have the honor to report the following 
as the operations of this brigade — First, Second, Third and Fifteenth 
Kegiments, New Jersey Volunteers — from June 28th to July 25th : 

June 28th, marched from a point about half way between Ed- 
wards' Ferry, on the Potomac, and Poolesville, Md., to Hyattstown ; 
distance, about 18 miles. 

June 29th, marched from Hyattstown, Md,, via New Market and 
Ridgeville, to near New Windsor, Md. ; distance, about 22 miles. 

June 30th, marched from near New Windsor via Westminster to 
Manchester ; distance, about 23 miles. 

July 1st, made a forced march from Manchester to Gettysburg^ 
Pa. ; distance, about 35 miles. Started at 10 p. m. ; marched all 
night, and the next day (July 2d) until 4 p. m., only stopping about 
one hour, at 1 P. m., to make coifee; arrived on the battle-field with 
only 25 men absent ; rested near the center of the line for about two 
hours, when we were ordered to the left of the line, where we arrived 
about dark. The brigade was drawn up in two lines in reserve, in 
which position it was held until morning, the men sleeping on their 
arms. 

July 3d, the absentees had joined their companies. Early in the 
morning the brigade was detached from the corps and put in position 
in front and about the center of the line and picketing strongly our 
own front, connecting on the right with the First Corps and on the 
left with the Fifth Corps. The brigade was not actively engaged on 
this day, except on the picket-line, where there were 1 1 men wounded. 
A few men in the brigade were wounded by the explosion of shells. 

July 4th, held the same position as on the 3d. Much credit is due 
to Lieutenant-Colonel Weibecke, Second Eegiment, who was in 
charge of the picket-line on the 3d, and also Lieutenant Goldsmith, 
additional Aide-de-Camp, who assisted him, for their very efficient 
management of the same. While the brigade was detached from the 
corps I was under the orders of Major-General John Newton, com- 
manding First Army Corps. 

July 5th, broke camp at 3 a. m. ; joined my division and corps, 
taking the lead of the same. Started about 11a. m. to follow the 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 135 

rear of the Rebel army, marching in line of battle about 6 miles, 
covered by a heavy line of skirmishers ; came up to their rear guard 
about 2 miles from Fairfield and had a sharp skirmish ; about 5 P. M. 
drove the enemy to Fairfield, and at night fell back about a mile 
and a half. Loss of the enemy, 2 killed, 2 ofiicers and 4 privates 
prisoners ; our loss, 1 killed and 2 wounded. 

July 6th, started at 6 p. m. as rear guard of the corps and trains 
for Emmittsburg ; marched all night ; arrived about daylight ; dis- 
tance, about 8 miles. 

July 7th, started at 6 A. m. ; marched all day and until 10 p. m., 
stopping in the mountains near Hamburg in a severe rain-storm ; dis- 
tance, about 15 miles. 

July 8th, marched at daylight over the mountain to Middletown ; 
distance, about 8 miles. 

July 9 th, started at 4 p. m. ; marched to Boonsboro ; distance, 
about 8 miles. 

July 10th, marched about 3 miles and took position in two lines. 

July 11th, remained in same position. 

July 12th, marched about 6 miles ; took position first about 2 miles 
from Hagerstown, on the Boonsboro and Hagerstown pike ; about 2 
p. M. changed position more to the left ; 5 p. M., advanced picket- 
line ; drove in the enemy's pickets ; lost 3 officers and 4 men 
wounded. 

July 13th, remained in same position. 

July 14th, advanced and marched to Williamsport ; about 6 miles. 

July 15th, marched from Williamsport to Boonsboro; 16 miles. 

July 16th, marched from Boonsboro via Middletown and Peters- 
ville to Berlin ; distance, about 20 miles. 

July 17th, remained in camp all day. 

July 18th, remeved camp about 2 miles. 

July 19th, crossed the Potomac at Berlin on pontoon bridge; en- 
camped near Wheatland, Va. ; distance, 8 miles. 

July 20th, broke camp at 10 A. m. and marched via Purcellville to 
Aldie and Snickersville pike, and encamped near Philomont ; distance, 
14 miles. 

July 21st, remained in camp all day. 

July 22d, broke camp at 10 p. m. and marched via Union to the 
Little River turnpike : distance, 12 miles. 



136 APPENDIX. 

July 23d, broke camp at 4 a. m. ; marched via Rectortown to 
White PlaiDs; distance, 12 miles. 

July 24th, broke camp at 6 P. M. ; marched towards Warrenton ; 
stopped about 12 o'clock at night near New Baltimore. 

July 25th, broke camp at 6 a. m,, and marched to Warrenton via 
New Baltimore, distance 6J miles, and took position on the Sulphur 
Springs road. 

Too much praise cannot be given to officers and men for their 
patience and endurance on this long and tedious march of about 250 
miles. There was by far less straggling than was ever known in 
this brigade before. 

I am, very respectfully, yours, &c., 

A. T. A. TORBERT, 
Brigadier- General of Volunteers. 
Captain H. R. Dalton, 

Assistant Adjutant- General, First Division. 



Report of Major Charles Ewing, Fourth New Jersey 
Volunteers. 

headquaktebs 
Fourth New Jersey Volunteers, 
Near Warrenton Junction, Va., 

August 23d, 1863. 
Captain — In obedience to orders received from Headquarters 
Artillery Reserve, I have the honor to report that on July 2d, while 
in charge of the ammunition train of the Artillery Reserve, my 
regiment arrived at the scene of action at Gettysburg, Pa. The part 
taken by the regiment was insignificant, being that of guarding the 
train, until about noon on the 3d instant, at the time of the enemy's 
terrific attack upon the left center, at which time the fugitives from 
the field began to rush towards the rear upon the road upon which I 
was stationed. I immediately deployed across the road and into the 
woods on my right flank with fixed bayonets, where I stopped and 
re-organized between 400 and 500 men, whom I turned over to Gen- 
eral Patrick. As soon as the panic subsided, I resumed my former 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 137 

duty with the ammunition train, which was not again interrupted 
during the battle. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

I am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

CHAS. EWING, 
Major Commanding Fourth New Jersey Volunteers. 
Captain C. H. Whittlesey, 

A. A. G., Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac. 



Beport of Colonel George C. Burling, Third Brigade, Second 
Division, Third Army Corps. 

headquartees 
Third Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps, 

August 20th, 1863. 

Major — I have the honor to make this as my report of the part 
taken by this brigade in the late marches and battles with the enemy : 

The brigade left camp at Falmouth, Va., on Thursday, June 11th, 
under command of Colonel Bowman, of the Eighty-fourth Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (that regiment being assigned to the 
brigade on the morning of June 11th), and marched near Hartwood 
Church and bivouacked for the night. 

The next morning the march was resumed. We reached Rappa- 
hannock Station near dark of that day and picketed the river from 
Kelly's Ford, on our left, to a short distance above the railroad, con- 
necting with the First Brigade of our division. We remained during 
Saturday and Sunday at this occupation. 

Sunday afternoon I received orders that the Eighty-fourth Penn- 
sylvania Volunteers were detailed from the brigade, and for me to 
report to General Humphreys, Division Commander, for instructions, 
which order I obeyed. 

In compliance with orders from General Humphreys, the brigade 
moved with the division that night towards Manassas Junction, 
reaching Catlett's Station about 7 o'clock Monday morning. Rested 
until near 2 o'clock, when the march was again resumed, reaching 
Manassas Junction about 12 o'clock that night. 

Remained here until Wednesday morning, when we again started 



138 APPENDIX. 

towards Centreville, arriving there that afternoon, remaining until 
Friday, the 19th, and then started towards Gum Springs, arriving 
there near dark. 

Remained in this place until Thursday, the 25th, and then marched 
to Edwards' Ferry, crossing the river on pontoons, and continued our 
march to Monocacy Aqueduct, arriving about midnight. 

The next morning the march was resumed to Point of Rocks. 
Bivouacked for the night and resumed the march in the morning, 
passing through Jefferson about noon. Bivouacked near Middletown 
that night. 

Started in the morning ; crossed the Catoctin Mountain, passing 
through Frederick City, and bivouacked seven miles out on the Lib- 
erty turnpike. 

Marched the next morning at 5 o'clock through Woodsboro, Ladies- 
burg, and Branchville to Taneytown, arriving near dark. 

Marched the next day through Bridgeport and bivouacked for the 
night. 

July 1st, we reached Emmittsburg, Md., at 12 m. I was ordered 
by Major Hamlin, Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Division, Third 
Corps, to remain at this place with the brigade and Smith's battery 
to guard the Hagerstown road. In conjunction with Colonel Sewell, 
of the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers, and Captain Smith, of the bat- 
tery, I immediately made such disposition of my command as I deemed 
advisable to accomplish this object. 

At 1:30 A. M., July 2d, I received orders from General Meade to 
immediately rejoin the corps, near Gettysburg, Pa. In consequence of 
my command covering so much ground, and the night being so dark, 
it was nearly 4 A. M. before I was able to march. 

• We joined the corps and division at 9 A. M. July 2d. The brigade 
was massed in column of regiments, and remained in that position 
until near 12 m., when General Humphreys ordered us to our position 
as a reserve to the First and Second Brigades of our division. 
Shortly after I received orders from General Humphreys to march to 
the left and report to General Birney, commanding First Division, 
Third Corps. I did so, and was ordered by him to mass the brigade 
in a piece of woods in the rear of his division . 

In a short time skirmishing commenced very heavy along his front, 
I was ordered then out of the woods by General Birney on an open 
field. Immediately on our unmasking ourselves the enemy opened 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 139 

■with a terrific artillery-fire on our left flank at a distance of not more 
than 1,000 yards. After remaining in this position for half an hour, 
upon the solicitation of several regimental commanders, whom I con- 
sidered equally competent with myself, I ordered the brigade to fall 
back about 100 yards, where they would have the protection of a 
small rise in the ground, which was done in perfect order. 

At this moment Captain Poland, of General Sickles' staff, rode up 
to me, and in an excited manner inquired by whose authority I moved 
the brigade. I answered, " By my own." He ordered me to take 
the brigade back again. I started with it, when an aide from General 
Birney ordered me to change direction to the Jeft and take a position 
behind a piece of woods, my front now being at right angles with my 
former front. 

I now received orders from General Birney to detail two of my 
largest regiments to report to General Graham, in compliance with 
which I detailed the Second New Hampshire and Seventh New Jersey 
Volunteers. Shortly after this I received orders from General 
Birney to detail the strongest regiment to report to General Humphreys 
for picket, in compliance with which I sent the Fifth New Jersey 
Volunteers, leaving me three small regiments. 

I now was ordered by General Birney to form a line across a small 
wheat-field on my left, to connect two brigades of the First Division. 
Before I had executed this order I received an order from General 
Birney to send the largest regiment to General Ward's support, on my 
left, and while I was attending to that the Eighth New Jersey Volun- 
teers was taken from me without my knowledge, leaving me with the 
One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, numbering 
140 muskets. My command being now all taken from me and 
separated, no two regiments being together, and being under the com- 
mand of the different brigade commanders to whom they had reported, 
I, with my staff, reported to General Humphreys for instructions,, 
remaining with him for some time. 

Seeing the colors and a portion of one regiment retiring, I immedi- 
ately rode to them and commenced collecting the brigade. Our whole 
line at this time being relieved, we lay on our arms until daylight of 
the 3d, and then joined the division. We were marched to the rear 
of the position occupied by us the day before, remaining there until 
some time after noon. We then moved to the right to support bat- 
teries. We lay in this position for two hours under a severe artillery- 



140 



APPENDIX. 



fire, when night ended the battle. We now marched back to our 
former position, where we remained until the enemy retreated. 

During the two days of fighting, both officers and- men behaved 
with their usual gallantry. I thank Captain T. W. Eayre, Assistant 
Adjutant-General; Captain J. W. Crawford, Acting Commissary of 
Subsistence; Lieutenant Merritt Bruen, Acting Aide-de-Camp, and 
Lieutenant Henry R. Clarke, ambulance officer, for their gallantry 
and promptness in conveying my orders. The last-named was 
mortally wounded and died on the field. 

Appended is a tabular statement of the casualties, as follows : 





OFFICERS. 


ENLISTED MEN. 




COMMAND. 


M 

1 
1 

""l 


c 

1 

'""5 

3 
10 

7 

""18 
43 


.5 

i 


3 


H 

1 

6 

3 

11 

7 


■6 
di 

"ii 

1 

14 

7 

3 

17 

53 


a 
3 


""60 
29 
76 
31 
18 
119 

333 


bh 

i 

' 16 
8 

13 
2 
3 

36 

78 


3 


H 

87 
38 

103 
40 
24 

172 

464 


3 
1 
< 


Brigade StafF. 


1 


Fifth New Jersey Volunteers 

Sixth New Jersey Volunteers 

Seventh New Jersey Volunteers 

Eighth New Jersey Volunteers 


93 

41 

114 

47 


One Hundred and Fifteenth Penn. Vols. 


""3 
6 


^^4 


Second New Hampshire Volunteers.... 
Total 




21 
49 


193 
513 



Sunday, July 5th, we received orders to be ready to move on short 
notice. 

Monday morning we started after the fleeing enemy, but after a 
very short march returned to our starting-point. 

Tuesday we started at 3 A. m. and marched through Emmittsburg 
and reached Mechanicstown at sunset ; bivouacked for the night. 

Resumed the march at daylight, passing through Frederick and 
bivouacked on the Middletown pike, one mile out, at 10 p. m. Started 
at 4 A. M,, marched through Middletown, reaching New Baltimore 
about noon, where we halted until near dark ; resuming the march 
again, halting about midnight in South Mountain Pass. Started 
again at 7 A. m., passing through Keedysville and crossed Antietam 
creek and halted until 10 p. m. ; resumed the march, recrossed the 
creek, and bivouacked for the night near Boolesville. Marched at 6 
A. M., a short distance, where the Third Corps was massed in the rear 
of one of the bridges crossing Antietam creek, in reserve, starting 



GETTYSBUEG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 141 

again at 4 p. M., crossing the Antietam, marching about three miles 
to the right and bivouacked for the night. 

Sunday, 12th, received orders that the General commanding would 
attack the enemy. About noon we moved to the left and massed in 
a woods about one and one-half miles in the rear of Marsh creek. 
Here we bivouacked for the night ; remained in this bivouac until 
Tuesday, the 14th ; started at 5 a. m. to occupy ground vacated by a 
division of the Twelfth Corps, which had advanced to reconnoiter 
the enemy's position ; as they advanced we followed within support- 
ing distance. It being discovered that the enemy had crossed the 
Potomac, we bivouacked for the night. 

The following morning we resumed the march at daylight, passing 
through Fairplay and Sharpsburg, crossing the Antietam over Burn- 
side's bridge, marching about half a mile, and bivouacked for the night. 

Marched at 6 a. m. the next morning (Thursday) to within three 
miles of Harper's Ferry and remained until the next afternoon. 
Resumed the march at 4 o'clock, crossing the Potomac and Shenan- 
doah at Harper's Ferry ; marched one and one-half miles towards 
Hillsboro and bivouacked for the night. 

Started at 6 a. m. and reached Hillsboro about noon. Staid here 
all night, starting in the morning at 8 o'clock, and marched to within 
five miles of Snicker's Gap, bivouacking for the night ; started in 
the morning at 4 o'clock and reached Upperville about 3 p. m. 

Remained here guarding Ashby's Gap until noon of Wednesday, 
July 22d, when we resumed the march and reached Piedmont Station, 
on the Manassas Gap railroad, about 1 p. m. At a late hour that 
night I was ordered to be ready to move the brigade with the division 
at 4 A. M., July 23d, to support the First Division of this corps. "We 
reached Linden Station, in Manassas Gap, near noon of the 23d. I 
was here ordered to detail a regiment to support a battery on the 
heights commanding Chester Gap road. The Seventh New Jersey 
Volunteers were detailed in compliance with that order, I would 
here state that at the time of our leaving Upperville the Sixth New 
Jersey Volunteers were detailed to guard the wagon-train, leaving me 
with four small regiments, numbering not more than 550 muskets. 
We advanced in column of division, closed in mass, changing our 
position from the right to the left side of the main road leading to 
Front Royal, and rising a high ridge which had been carried by the 
First Division. I was now ordered forward by General Prince to 



142 APPENDIX. 

support the Second Brigade of our division, which had charged and 
was driving the enemy. The column was immediately put in motion 
and deployed while advancing and continued to advance in line of 
battle to a crest of a hill within easy supporting distance of the Sec- 
ond Brigade, where, by General Prince in person, we were ordered to 
halt. While in this position the enemy opened a slight artillery -fire, 
which wounded two men. We remained in this position all night, 
the men lying on their arms. 

Early the next morning I was ordered to advance, leading the divi- 
sion column. The Second New Hampshire Volunteers were deployed 
as skirmishers on the right and left of the road ; the One Hundred 
and Fifteenth Pennsylvania and the Eighth New Jersey Volunteers 
supported the right, and the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers the left of 
the skirmishers. In this order we pressed the distance of three miles 
to Front Royal, the enemy falling back slowly before us. In 
approaching Front Royal the line of skirmishers and supports passed 
over a steep mountain, densely wooded and with thick undergrowth. 
After a short stay at Front Royal I was ordered by General Prince 
to withdraw my skirmishers and march to the rear by the flank, the 
object we came for being accomplished. At Markham Station we 
bivouacked for the night, and next day marched to within seven miles 
of Warren ton. 

It was extremely gratifying to me to observe the promptness that 
both officers and men evinced in overcoming the difficulties of the 
advance, the weather being extremely warm and the ground very 
uneven and covered in many places with a thick undergrowth almost 
impassable for man or beast. 

I feel indebted to Captain T. W. Eayre, Assistant Adjutant-Gene- 
ral; Lieutenant Culver, Acting Assistant Inspector-General, and 
Lieutenant Thompson, Aide-de-Camp, for their promptness in com- 
municating my orders on the field. 

Sunday, July 26th, started at 5 A. M. and reached Warrenton at 11 
A. M., where we went into camp. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEO. C. BURLING, 
Colonel Sixth New Jersey Volunteers, Commanding Brigade. 

Major Chaeles Hamlin, 

Assistant Adjutant- General, Second Division, Third Corps. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 143 

Reports of Captain H. H. Woolsey and Colonel W. J. Sewell, 
Fifth Ne-w Jersey Volunteers. 

headquarters 
Fifth New Jersey Volunteers, 
Bivouac near Upperville, Va., 

July 21st, 1863. 

Sir — I have the honor to submit the following report of the part 
taken by the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers in the recent engagement 
at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2d and 3d : 

The regiment had been on picket on the night of the Ist instant 
about one mile and a half ^om Emmittsburg, Md., on the road lead- 
ing from that place to Hagerstown, Md. 

At 2 A. M. the pickets were called in and the regiment joined the 
brigade, and at daybreak marched with the brigade towards Gettys- 
burg, reaching the battle-iield at about 10 a. m. From that time until 
4 p. M. the regiment, in common with the rest of the brigade, changed 
its position several times, being from about 2 p. m. the most of the 
time under a heavy fire of artillery from the enemy's batteries, which 
had taken position to the left of the Emmittsburg road. The casualr 
ties in the regiment up to this time, however, were few. 

At about 4 p. M. the regiment was ordered to relieve another regi- 
ment, in support of Battery K (Captain Seeley), Fourth U. S. 
Artillery, which was in position near the Emmittsburg road just south 
of the Apple Orchard. We took this position, moving by the right 
flank at the double-quick. In order to occupy the front assigned the 
regiment it had to be deployed as skirmishers, thus forming rather a 
singular line for the protection of a battery of six guns. At this 
point the Rebel artillery-fire was very severe and effective, one battery 
pouring an enfilading fire, principally of spherical case, immediately 
up the road. Very soon after we arrived on the road another — or 
more probably more than one — Rebel battery opened upon us from 
the woods to our left and front. Captain Seeley's battery then became 
engaged. A battery to our right soon after, and one to our left facing 
south down the road, and which had been engaggd before we arrived 
in the road, continued their fire. This artillery- fire was kept up very 
rapidly for an hour or more, our regiment all the time losing men, 
the most of them, however, being but slightly wounded by the spheri- 
cal case. During all this time there was no infantry- firing on our 
part of theline. 



144 APPENDIX. 

At about 5 o'clock, however, the skirmishers in our front (the First 
U. S. Sharpshooters) were driven in, and immediately after a dense 
line of the enemy's infantry was seen advancing over a knoll about 
600 yards distant to our left and front, and as this line advanced the 
infantry on both sides became engaged. The carnage at this time was 
fearful. The regiments to our left, however, were soon compelled to 
fall back, and our regiment, small as it was, and deployed over so 
large a front, could offer but little resistance to the Rebel line of 
battle. Seeley's battery, which we felt to be our especial care, was 
also compelled to fall back. The regiment was collected around the 
pieces of the battery, and it and the battery commenced firing in 
retreat. This was kept up until another line of ours was reached, 
near the position first occupied by our brigade in the morning, and 
about 100 yards from our position on the road. 

During this retrograde movement we lost many men, and it was at 
this time that Colonel Sewell, our gallant leader, was seriously 
wounded by a musket ball in the thigh. Captain Healy, Acting 
Major, was also wounded by shell in the hand and thigh. Before 
leaving the road I had been slightly wounded in the head by a 
musket ball and had left the field. The regiment was now left under 
the command of Captain Godfrey, and, reinforcements arriving from 
the Fifth Corps, was withdrawn from the field. That night the regi- 
ment bivouacked near the stream in the rear of the battle-field. 

On the morning of the 3d I rejoined the regiment and took com- 
mand. 

During the day we were under fire several times, but met with no 
casualties. 

The loss on the 2d instant was very nearly 50 per cent, of the whole 
number engaged. A nominal list of the casualties is furnished below. 

We believe that our regiment assisted materially in gaining our 
glorious victory over the invading Rebel army, and has added some- 
thing to the reputation already won on so many hard-fought fields. 
Every officer and man was in his place and did his duty. * * * 

• BECAPITULATION. 

Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total. 

Officers 2 5 ... 7 

Enlisted men 11 60 16 87 

Total 13 65 16 94 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 145 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. H. WOOLSEY, 

Captain Fifth N. J. Vols.y Commanding Regiment. 
Captain Thomas W. Eayre, 

Assistant Adjutant- General. 

The undersigned adds the following corrections to the report of 
Captain Woolsey, who was mistaken as regards the duty which the 
regiment was intended to perform : 

My orders were to report to General Graham for the purpose of 
relieving the Sixty-third Pennsylvania on picket. My right rested 
at a white house, my left extending to a large barn on the Emmitts- 
burg road, thus covering the front of the Second Division ; Seeley's 
battery a few paces in the rear of my center, and two brigades of the 
Second Division on the slope of the hill. When the enemy's column 
of attack appeared in sight I sent word to General Humphreys and 
immediately afterwards became engaged. Previous to this I had time 
to examine the ground, and was convinced that the only place to 
check the attack was on the road and crest of the hill which I held. 
My left became engaged first, and immediately after was entirely 
driven in by the giving way of some regiments of the First Division 
to my left and the enemy placing a battery where my left had rested. 
I had now a direct musketry-fire and a battery of artillery on my 
flank, but still held the position, hoping for the advance of the troops 
in my rear. When obliged to fall back I did so by rallying on my 
right, covering Seeley's battery, which was firing in retreat. I found, 
on reaching the position occupied by the Second Division, General 
Humphreys changing front to rear on his right, so as to connect with 
the First Division, which had been driven back a considerable dis- 
tance — so much so that the enemy was on the flank and rear of the 
Second Division thirty minutes after the attack commenced. I was 
wounded during this movement. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

W. J. SEWELL, 

Colonel Fifth New Jersey Volunteers. 

10 



146 APPENDIX. 

Beport of Lieutenant- Colonel S. R. Gilkyson, Sixth New Jersey 

Volunteers. 

headquarters 
Sixth New Jersey Volunteers, 
Camp near Warrenton, Va., 

July 27th, 1863. 
Sir — In compliance with orders from Brigade Headquarters, I 
have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the 
Sixth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, in the late engagement at 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2d and 3d : 

The regiment, with the brigade, arrived on the battle-field about 8 
A. M. of the 2d instant, where we massed and rested for about an 
hour, when we commenced to take position. After manoeuvering for 
some time, the Sixth New Jersey Volunteers was detached from the 
brigade and ordered to the support of General Ward's brigade, which 
was engaged with the enemy near the left of our line, partly in the 
wroods, their left resting in an open field. Advancing promptly 
through the woods we came to a fence. Having no one to guide me, 
and not knowing the position the regiment was to occupy, I formed 
line and opened fire on the enemy directly in our front. Soon ascer- 
'taining the position of our line, under a heavy fire from the enemy, 
I advanced the regiment about 200 yards across the open field, 
directly in front of Battery D, Fourth New York Artillery, Captain 
Smith, taking position on the left of Ward's brigade. Here we 
secured a fine position and opened fire with great efiect, driving the 
-enemy from our immediate front, remaining in this position for about 
itwo hours, being during this time actively engaged. Seeing the troops 
on my right retiring, I ordered my regiment to retire, which it did in 
good order, halting with the rest of the troops. I reported to Gen- 
eral Ward, who informed me he had been relieved, ordering me to 
join my brigade, which we did about 7 p. m. 

July 3d, the regiment, with the brigade, took position, massed in a 
woods in rear and near the left of our line, remaining in this position 
until about 2 p. m., when we were ordered further to the right to 
support some batteries, lying in mass for about two hours under a 
heavy shell-fire, with the loss of one commissioned officer and five 
men wounded, when we returned to our old position. 

Both officers and men behaved with their usual gallantry, fully 
sustaining their well-earned reputation. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 147 

My los8 in the two days' engagement in killed, wounded and miss- 
ing was as follows, viz. : 

Killed. Wounded. Missing. 

Commissioned officers 3 

Enlisted men 1 30 7 

Total 1 33 7 

Grand total 41 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. R. GILKYSON, 
Lieut- Col. Commanding Sixth New Jersey Volunteers. 
Captain T. W. Eayre, 

Assistant Adjutant- General. 



Eeport of Major Frederick Cooper, Seventh New Jersey 

Volunteers. 

headquarters 
Seventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, 
In the Field, July 17th, 1863. 

Sir — I have the honor to report the following as the part per- 
formed by this regiment during the late engagement at Gettysburg, 
Pa., July 2d and 3d : 

About 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d instant. Colonel Fran- 
cine was ordered to report to Brigadier-General Graham, which was 
done, and soon after we were placed in position to support a battery. 
Soon after being posted, the enemy opened a heavy fire of shot and 
shell. Our position being greatly exposed, we suffered severely. We 
remained in this position until 5:30 p. m., when the enemy made a 
vigorous charge upon a battery on our left, which compelled the 
battery to retire. In falling back the battery broke through our 
ranks, creating considerable confusion for a time, but through the 
exertions of the officers the line was re-formed. The enemy now 
being on our left flank. Colonel Francine threw the right of the 
regiment forward and opened fire upon the enemy. After firing a 
few rounds a charge was ordered, which was attempted, but the 
enemy's fire was so severe that we were compelled to fall back a short 
distance. At this juncture, Colonel Francine and Lieutenant-Colonel 



148 APPENDIX. 

Price being wounded, I assumed command of the regiment, and' 
re-forming the line made an effort to hold our position until rein- 
forcements arrived. Soon the enemy appeared upon the right flank, 
and there being danger of being overwhelmed and captured, I ordered 
the regiment to fall back to the woods. Our supports having arrived, 
I retired from the field and joined the brigade. 

We remained in the woods all night, and on the morning of the 
3d instant moved with the brigade to the front. Nothing of note 
transpired until about 5 P. M., when we again moved with the brigade 
to the right, and were assigned to the support of two batteries. For 
a short time we were subjected to a heavy artillery-fire. The enemy 
not essaying to attack us, we moved back to our former position. 

The regiment behaved well during the whole engagement, both 
oflBcers and men doing their whole duty. 

I would especially mention Sergeant Charles A. Monks, Company 
C, for his bravery and gallant conduct on the field. 

I regret to report the death of First Lieutenant Charles F. Walker, 
Company B, a gallant and efficient officer, who was killed on the 
afternoon of the 3d instant. 

My loss in killed is 16; wounded, 84; missing, 12. Total, 112. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
FKEDERICK COOPER, 
Major Commanding Seventh Regiment^ New Jersey Volunteers. 



Report of Colonel R. McAllister, Eleventh New Jersey 
Volunteers. 

Belvidere, N. J., August 3d, 1863. 

Captain — In compliance with circular from Brigade Headquar- 
ters, dated July 27th, 1863, I hereby have the honor to report the 
operations of my command from June 11th to July 8th, inclusive: 

June 11th, received orders at 12 m. to get ready for an immediate 
movement. Joined the brigade by order at 2:30 p. m. and marched 
until 9 P. M., when we halted and bivouacked near Hartwood Church. 

June 12th, resumed the march along the river road at 6:30 a. M; 
Halted at 9:30 p. m. at a point near Beverly Ford, on the Rappahan- 
nock. A very hard march, the heat and dust being almost intolera- 
ble and water scarce ; yet the men kept up well. 




^•j?^"^ 



Monument to Eleventh Infantry. 

( EMMITTSaURG ROAD.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 149 

June 13th, under arms at daylight, and agreeable to order from 
Brigade Headquarters remained so half an hour. In the afternoon 
furnished a detail of 200 men to relieve a picket along the river. 

June 14th, again under arms at daylight, as on the 13th. Received 
orders in the afternoon to be in readiness to march at dark. Left at 
^ p. M. ; marched by way of Bealeton on the Orange and Alexandria 
railroad and Warrenton Junction, and reached Cedar Run at 7:30 
A. M. on the 15th. 

June 15th, resumed the march from Cedar Run at 2 p. m., and 
reached Manassas Junction at midnight and bivouacked. 

June 16th, remained as on the 15th, until late in the afternoon, 
when we were moved a mile. 

June 17th, resumed the march at 10 A. m., crossed Bull Run and 
halted until 3 P. M., when the command was moved to Centreville, 
arriving there early in the evening. 

June 18th, moved a mile in the afternoon, to higher ground. 

June 19th, left Centreville at 3 p. m. ; arrived at Gum Springs at 
dark and bivouacked. 

June 20th, 21st, 22cl, 23d and 24th, remained at Gum Springs. 

June 25th, left Gum Springs at 10 a. m., and made rapid march to 
Edwards' Ferry ; crossed the Potomac and proceeded along the Chesa- 
peake and Ohio canal to the Monocacy, where a remnant of the regi- 
ment arrived at 12:30 a. m. This march was so rapid and the road 
in such a bad condition that most of the men were compelled to stop 
at various points along the canal, from complete exhaustion. 

June 26th, Major Learney was sent back early in the morning to 
bring up the men. Left early in the forenoon, most of the men hav- 
ing arrived, and marched to Point of Rocks, where we arrived late in 
the afternoon and bivouacked on the heights half a mile from the 
town. 

June 27th, the regiment was detailed to guard the division train, 
and reported, according to order, to Captain Johnson. The guard 
was distributed as follows : one man to each wagon and the remainder 
of the regiment in squads in intervals along the train. Passed through 
Jefferson and joined the remainder of the brigade at Burkittsville at 
dark. 

June 28th, resumed the march at 9 A. M. Passed through Middle- 
town and arrived at Frederick at 6 p. m. Marched to and bivouacked 
4)eyond the Monocacy. 



150 APPENDIX. 

June 29th, left early this morning; marched to Taneytown and 
bivouacked in the woods near by. 

June 30th, mustered the regiment during the forenoon. Left 
Taneytown early in the afternoon and marched three miles on the 
Emmittsburg road and bivouacked. 

July 1st, resumed the march at 7:30 A. M. Marched by way of 
Emmittsburg and halted within two miles of Gettysburg, where we 
remained during the night. 

July 2d, morning dawned ; considerable fog ; breakfast over. Troops 
moving in different directions, apparently taking up their several posi- 
tions. Received orders to move. We marched but a short distance 
when the brigade formed in column of regiments, my regiment in 
the rear. Cannonading now commenced on different parts of our 
lines, after which we received orders to deploy and form line of battle. 
The artillery fight now became general and very heavy ; hard fighting 
on the extreme left of our lines ; orders to move forward in line of 
battle ; the " Third Battalion the battalion of direction ;" my regiment 
on the left of our brigade. The movement was executed handsomely. 
Before reaching the crest of the hill occupied by our line of pickets, 
on the summit of which stood a little farm-house and garden, we were 
halted, with the right of my regiment in the orchard in front of the- 
house, and ordered to lie down. In a short time a Rebel battery 
secured our range, when I received orders to move by my left flank 
in front of the One Hundred and Twentieth New York Regiment, so 
as to give room for one of our batteries to take a position on the crest 
of the hill. After a severe cannonading on both sides I was ordered 
back to my old position. In a few minutes I was ordered to change 
my front by throwing back my left. This done, we lay down wait- 
ing the enemy. I ordered that when the enemy advanced on us that 
we fire by rank, rear rank first, so as to be enabled to hold in check 
the enemy after the first fire. Captain Benedict, Assistant Adjutant- 
General, rode up and cautioned me to be careful and not fire on our 
own men, pointing to those around the house and garden, who seemed 
to remain as though no enemy were near them. It was but a few 
minutes until our pickets came rushing in, closely followed by the 
Rebels, who took possession of the house and garden. 1 ordered 
" Fire ! " at which time I fell, severely wounded by a Minie ball in 
my left leg and a piece of shell in my right foot, when I was- 
carried to the rear. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 151 

In conclusion, permit me to say that during the day Major Kearny 
and Adjutant Schoonover displayed the same bold and dashing cour- 
age that distinguished them on the battle-field of Chancellorsville ; 
they richly deserve promotion. 

Up to the time I fell, all my oflficers and men present stood up 
nobly and did their duty. I fondly hope that they continued to do so 
to the end, though sad to think of the severe loss we sustained. 
Respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. McAllister, 

Colonel Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers. 
Captain Le G. Benedict, 

A. A. G., First Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps. 



Eeport of Lieutenant John Schoonover, Eleventh New Jersey 

Volunteers. 

headquarters 
Eleventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, 
Camp near Beverly Ford, Va., 

August 7th, 1863. 

Captain — In continuation of the inclosed report of Colonel R. 
McAllister I have the honor to submit the following : 

A few minutes previous to the command " Fire," spoken of in the 
accompanying report. Major Kearny, then standing near me on the 
left of the line, was struck by a Minie ball in the knee and immedi- 
ately carried to the rear. 

At this moment Battery K, Fourth U. S. Artillery, then stationed 
a short distance to the left and front of the regiment, limbered their 
pieces and passed by our left to the rear, closely followed by a line of 
the enemy's infantry, upon which the regiment opened a rapid fire. 
I then passed rapidly to the right of the regiment in order to inform 
the Colonel of the absence of the Major and learned that he too had 
been wounded and taken to the rear. I immediately notified Captain 
Martin, the senior officer present, that he was in command of the 
regiment, and again passed to the left of the line, when an order was 
received from Brigadier- General Carr to slightly change the front by 
bringing the left to the rear. This being executed, the entire regi- 
ment opened an effective fire upon the advancing line of the enemy. 



152 APPENDIX. 

At this point word was conveyed to me that both Captains Martin 
and Logan were wounded and being carried to the rear. A mojnent 
later and Captain Ackerman fell dead by my side. The two former 
were killed before they reached a place of safety; and in justice to 
the memory of these three officers permit me to bear witness to their 
unexceptionable good conduct; ever to the front, distinguished for 
personal bravery, they leave behind them a spotless record. 

By this time Captain Lloyd had also been wounded, and Captain 
Dunning being absent in assisting the Colonel to the rear, I assumed 
command of the regiment. The fire of the enemy was at this time 
perfectly terrific ; men were falling on every side. It seemed as if 
but a few minutes could elapse before the entire line would be shot 
down, yet the galling fire was returned with equal vigor. Slowly and 
stubbornly the regiment fell back, keeping up a continual fire upon 
the line of the enemy, which was still advancing, until more than 
half of its number had been killed and wounded. 

Up to this time both officers and men nobly did their duty, but the 
ranks becoming so decimated and mingled with wounded men and 
the line in the rear, and having a short time previous been struck 
with a piece of shell in the breast, I found it impossible, under these 
circumstances to longer keep the line together. At this time we 
neared the caissons, which were in line across the field to the left, 
when I was struck the second time with a buckshot, and being nearly 
exhausted in my effijrts to rally the men and from the wound in my 
breast, I was counseled to go to the rear. 

A portion of the regiment was rallied some distance to the rear by 
Captain Lloyd and charged in line with the remainder of the brigade 
to a point near that occupied during the hottest of the action. Re- 
maining there a short time it marched some distance to the rear and 
bivouacked. 

Being able to ride, I joined the regiment on the morning of the 3d, 
and again took command by request of the senior officer present for 
duty. Captain Sleeper. A number of officers and men also joined 
the regiment, having been collected near the stream further to the rear. 

Moving a short distance to the front, the regiment was halted until 
3 p. M., when it was ordered out double-quick with the remainder of 
the brigade on the road towards Gettysburg. Proceeding nearly a 
mile, it was halted and formed in line of battle in rear of the bat- 
teries occupying the crest of the hill in front, the brigade being in. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 153 

-column of regiments. The regiment remained in this position for 
nearly two hours under a heavy fire of shot and shell, yet but one 
man was slightly wounded. During the time my horse was struck 
with a spherical case shot, from the effects of which he died the next 
day. 

About 5 p. M. the regiment returned to its former position, where 
it remained during the night. 

In conclusion, permit me to mention the general good conduct of 
both officers and men, both upon the 2d and 3d. To mention some 
might do gross injustice to others, but I cannot pass by the untiring 
efforts of Lieutenant Buckley to rally the men. Captain Lloyd and 
Lieutenant Corey also deserve special mention for their coolness and 
bravery. 

As an individual act of bravery I desire to mention Corporal 
Thomas Johnson, of Company I, whom, when two Color Bearers had 
been shot down, I ordered to take the colors and advance twenty 
yards to the front, as the regiment was then wavering. He did so, 
and did not leave his position until ordered to the rear. 

The services of Lieutenant James Baldwin on the 3d, as Acting 
Adjutant, were invaluable. 

In the action of the 2d the regiment sustained a very heavy loss. 
Out of 275 officers and men taken in the fight 18 were killed, 130 
wounded and 6 missing, making a total of 154. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JOHN SCHOONOYER, 
Adjutant Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers. 

Captain Le G. Benedict, 

A. A. G., First Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps. 



Keport of Captain William B. Dunning, Eleventh New Jersey 

Volunteers. 

headquarters 
Eleventh Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, 
Camp near Beverly Ford, Va., 

August 7th, 1863. 
Captain — I hereby have the honor to report the operations of the 
Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers from July 4th to 8th, inclusive : 



164 APPENDIX. 

July 4th, 5th and 6th the regiment remained as on the 3d. 

July 7th ; left this morning at daylight. Marched by way of 
Emmittsburg to Mechanicstown and bivouacked. 

July 8th resumed march at 6 A. m. and arrived at Frederick at 8 
p. M., where we bivouacked. 

I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 

WM. B. DUNNING, 

Captain Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers. 
Captain Le G. Benedict, 

A. A. G., First Brigade, Second Division, Third Corps. 



Report of Major John T. Hill, Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers*. 

headquartees 
Twelfth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, 

July 16th, 1863. 

Sir — I have the honor to report the action of the regiment I have 
the honor to command during the engagements of the 2d, 3d and 4th 
instant to have been as follows : 

At 5 p. M. on the 2d instant four companies (B, H, E and G) were 
detailed to take a large barn on our picket-line, taken from us and 
held by the enemy. Under command of Captain Jobes, Company G,. 
they charged gallantly upon the building, surrounding it and captur- 
ing 92 prisoners, including 7 commissioned officers, losing in the 
attack 2 officers and 40 men killed and wounded. 

At 6 P. M. the same day the balance of my command moved to the 
front ii .e, taking position behind a stone fence to the left of Kirby's 
battery, remaining in this position until the afternoon of the 5th 
instant. 

At 7:30 A. M. of the 3d instant five companies (D, C, K, F and 
A), under command of Captain Thompson, Company K, again drove 
the enemy from the shelter of the barn, capturing a Major and one 
man, relieving our lines from an annoying fire from the enemy's 
sharpshooters posted therein. 

At 4 p. M. of the 3d instant the whole line became engaged in 
repulsing an attack in force made by the enemy, completely routing 
them, capturing prisoners estimated to number 500 men and 2 colors* 




Hr- 




Monument to the Twelfth Infantry. 

(south of BRYAN B^RN, MAIN LINE OF BATTLE.) 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 155 

We collected and turned in 751 small arms, picked up in our im- 
mediate front. 

Officers and men behaved with the greatest gallantry. I take 
pleasure in calling your attention to the meritorious conduct of Cap- 
tains Thompson, Jobes and Chew, Adjutant Franklin, Lieutenants 
McComb, Trimble, Acton, Phipps, Williams, Eastwick and Dare, 
Sergeant- Major Du Bois, and Color Sergeants Cheeseman and Griffin. 

Our casualties were : 

Killed. Wounded. Missing, 

Commissioned officers 2 4 

Enlisted men 21 75 11 

Total 23 79 11 

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JOHN T. HILL, 

Major Commanding Twelfth New Jersey Volunteers, 
Colonel Morris, 

Comdg. Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps. 



Report of Lieutenant A. Parsons, Battery A, First New 
Jersey Light Artillery. 

Battery A, First New Jersey Artillery, 
Artillery Reserve, 

July 17th, 1863. 
General — I have the honor to report that on the 3d instant, about 
3 P. M., I received orders from General Hunt to move the battery to 
the front as quickly as possible. I at once obeyed the order and 
soon had the battery in position about one-fourth of a mile south of 
Gettysburg Cemetery, and near the Second Division, Second Corps, 
Captain Fitzhugh's battery following immediately after me and 
taking position on my right. At this time the enemy's infantry 
were advancing very rapidly. I at once opened fire upon them with 
case shot and fired about 120 rounds with good effect. As soon as 
they fell back I opened fire upon one of the enemy's batteries (which 
by this time had got an exact range of my position) with shell, and 
used 80 rounds, when I received orders from General Hunt to cease 



166 APPENDIX. 

firing. My shell were telling upon the enemy's battery and I believe 
that I could have completely silenced it in five minutes more. 

During the action I lost 2 men killed and 7 wounded. I also lost 
3 horses killed and 2 wounded, which have since died. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

AUGU8TIN PARSONS, 
First lAeutenant Commanding Battery. 
General Tyler, 

Commanding Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac. 



Report of Captain A. Judson Clark, Battery B, First New 
Jersey Light Artillery. 

headquarters 

Battery B, First New Jersey Light Artillery, 

Near Beverly Ford, Va., 

August 14th, 1863. 

Captain — I have the honor to submit the following report of the 
part taken by this battery in the engagement near Gettysburg, July 2d : 

Early on the morning of July 2d, the battery was moved to the 
front and placed in the second, near the left of the line of batteries. 
About 9:30 A. m,, the battery, by your orders, was moved to the front 
and left and placed in line on the rise of ground midway between 
General Sickles' headquarters and the Peach Orchard, on the Emmitts- 
burg road, where we remained until about 2 p. m. At this time the 
enemy's infantry was discovered passing in column across the 
Emmittsburg road to our left and front, and distant about 1,400 
yards, and, by directions of General Sickles, I placed my battery in 
position and opened fire upon their position, using shell and case 
shot, firing very slowly and apparently with good effect, as, after 
some six or seven rounds, the columns had entirely disappeared and 
no more were seen to pass that point. 

Nothing more transpired until about 3 P. M. (at this time the bat- 
tery was in line at the foot of the next slope, near the Peach Orchard), 
when a Rebel battery, which had just been placed in position near a 
house on the Emmittsburg road, about 1,400 yards to our front, 
opened fire on my position, and I was ordered by you to go back and 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE-FIELD COMMISSION. 157 

attack the battery. This I did, using shell and case shot, and after a 
pretty sharp fight silenced the battery, but only for a short time, 
when they opened again, as did other batteries which they had 
brought into position on my right. From this time until night the 
fire from them was rapid and severe. 

About 3:30 p. m., the enemy's infantry commenced moving down 
from our front and right in strong columns, under cover of a heavy 
artillery- fire, and the fire soon became sharp and obstinate. I im- 
mediately opened on them with shell and case shot, but although the 
fire seemed very destructive, opening large gaps in their ranks, it 
only temporarily checked them, and they pressed steadily on. I con- 
tinued firing case and shell, however, at the column, and later in the 
fight into the woods on my immediate front and left, in which the 
enemy were pushing our troops, that seeming to be at the time the 
main point of their attack. 

About 6:30 p. m., another of the enemy's columns commenced 
moving across my front, and distant about 350 yards, when I began 
firing canister, doing great execution, throwing the column wholly 
into confusion and causing it to seek shelter behind the slope of a hill 
just beyond them. By this time our infantry on both sides had 
fallen back, as had also several batteries, when, having no supports, 
I deemed it best to retire, which I did to near the ground occupied 
the previous evening. In the battle of the following day the battery 
was not engaged. 

I was obliged to leave one caisson and one caisson-body on the 
field for the want of horses to bring them off, but subsequently recov- 
ered them. My loss in men was as follows: 1 man killed, 16 men 
wounded, and 3 missing, 2 of whom are known to be prisoners. I 
had 17 horses killed, and 5 disabled so badly that I was obliged to 
abandon them. 

Of the conduct of the officers and men I can only say that it was 
in the highest degree commendable for courage and bravery. 

I am, Captain, your obedient servant, 

A. JUDSON CLARK, 
Captain First New Jersey Artillery, Commanding Battery B. 

Captain George E. Randolph, 

Chief of Artillery, Third Corps. 



INDEX. 



INDEX. 



A. 

Pagb. 

Address of Lincoln at Gettysburg 9 

Avis, H. M., letter 114 

B. 

Battery A, dedication of monument 60,76 

Battery B, dedication of monument 50 

Battle of Gettysburg, account of. 5 

Beaver, Governor James A,, address 67 

Bliss Barn affair 107 

Brigade Monument, dedication of. 61 

Bryan, Major William E., address 72 

Buck, Colonel Samuel L., address 85 

Burling, Colonel George C, official report 137 

O. 

Cannon to mark positions 13,14 

Cemetery, plans for laying out and incorporation 7 

completion of. 11 

action by New Jersey, relative to 8-11 

transfer of to United States 11 

number of interments in 12 

Chew, Captain Henry F., letter 110 

Clark, Colonel A. Judson, address 50 

official report 156 

Clark's Battery, dedication of monument 50 

Coley, Captain Benjamin D., letter 103 

Commands from New Jersey engaged 16 

Commissioners for New Jersey appointed 16, 95 

Contracts for monuments 25 

Cooper, Major Frederick, official report 147 

Corbin, William H., appointed Commissioner 16,95 

address at dedication of Thirteenth Regiment 

Monument 31 

Cost of the monuments 27 

Crawford, General, consent to use of land 31 

11 



162 INDEX. 

D. 

Page. 

Danenhower, George R., letter.. 117 

Dead on the field, action of Governors for burial.. 6 

Dead, numbers of in National Cemetery 12 

Dedication of monument to Thirteenth Regiment 30 

monuments, legislative provision for 43,95 

exercises June 30th, 1888 46 

Designs for monuments selected 23 

Disbursements of Commission 27 

Duffy, Colonel James N., appointed Commissioner 16 

address at dedication of Thirteenth Regi- 
ment Monument. 29 

address at dedication of Brigade Monument, 61 

Dunning, Captain William B., official report 153 

B. 

Eighth Regiment, dedication of monument 47 

Eleventh Regiment, dedication of monument 53 

Ewing, Major Charles, official report 136 

F. 

Fifteenth Regiment, dedication of monument 74 

Fifth Regiment, dedication of monument 56 

First Infantry, dedication of monument 69 

First Cavalry, dedication of monument 88 

Fourteenth Connecticut, resolution giving use of land 22 

Fourth Regiment, dedication of monument.... 74 

a. 

Gaul, Samuel M., address 74 

Gettysburg, account of battle of. 5 

Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association 12 

Gettysburg, appropriation of money to by New Jersey 15, 27 

Gilkyson, Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen R., address 46 

official report 146 

Governors of Loyal States, convention of agents 6, 7 

Green, Governor Robert S., address at dedication of Thirteenth Regi- 
ment Monument 30 

address at dedication of Brigade Monu- 
ment 64 

address at dedication of Cavalry Monu- 
ment 90 

. rubb, General E. Burd, address 87 



INDEX. 163 
H. 

Page. 

Haines, Rev. Alanson A., prayer at Brigade Monument 61 

Cavalry Monument 88 

Harris, General Francis H., address at dedication , 34 

Hexamer's Battery, dedication of monument 60,76 

tablet for monument 95 

letter from Captain Parsons 121 

Hill, Major John T., letters 107 

official report 154 

Hillyer, Captain W. R., letter 104 

I. 

Inscriptions on monuments 125 

K. 

Kearny, General John Watts, address 86 

Krueger, Gottfried, appointed Commissioner.. 16 

li. 

Land for monuments obtained 21 

Letter transmitting report 3 

Letters from survivors of battle 103-124 

Lincoln, Abraham, address at Gettysburg , 9 

Lippincott, Captain Charles D 117 

Location of battle lines by New Jersey survivors 17, 18 

monuments described 21 

Losses of the several commands 131 

M. 

Maps of the battle-field 13 

Mathews, Captain Ambrose M., address 79 

McDonald, Sergeant Edward F., address 52 

McAllister, General Robert, letters 105 

official report 148 

Memoranda from survivors of the battle 103-124 

Monuments, account of the beginning of , 14 

designs selected 23 

inscriptions upon 125 

land obtained for 21 

permanence of construction , 24 

provision for by New Jersey 15 

care of 95 

private contributions 24 

sites selected. , 19 



164 . INDEX. 

Page. 

Monuments, description of sites 21-23,100 

contracts for 26 

cost of. ••..... 27 

dedication of Thirteenth 29 

all others 45-93 

deed for sites 99 

N. 

New Jersey, action respecting burial of dead 7-13 

commands engaged 16 

strength of. 17 

O. 

Official reports of the battle 133 

P. 

Parsons, Captain Augustine N., letter 121 

official report 155 

Positions and lines held, location of. 17 

Potter, Colonel William E., address 81, 109 

R. 

Eamsay, General John, address 47 

Receipts and disbursements of Commission 27 

Reports of officers 133 

Resolutions of veterans at Gettysburg 93 

Riley, Frank M., letter 112 

Rusling, General James F., address 56 

S. 

Sawyer, Major Henry W., address.. 89 

Schoonover, Colonel John, address 54 

official report 151 

Second Regiment, dedication of monument 85 

Seventh Regiment, dedication of monument 52 

Sewell, General William J., address 59 

official report 145 

Sites for monuments selected 19 

deed for 99 

Sixth Regiment, dedication of monument 46 

Stratton, Captain Azariah, letter 115 

Strength of commands engaged... 17 

Stryker, General William S , address at dedication of Thirteenth Regi- 
ment Monument 41 



LBAp'04 



INDEX. 165 

Page. 
Stryker, General William S., address at dedication of Battery A 

Monument. 76 

Surveys by the Government 13 

T. 

Third Regiment, dedication of monument 72 

Thirteenth Regiment, dedication of monument 29,79 

Torbert, General Alfred T. A., report 133 

Twelfth Regiment, dedication of monument 60 

address by Colonel Potter 81 

survivors attending dedication... 119 

V. 

Van Blarcom, Captain Lewis, address 74 

'W. 

Wagner, Captain S. C, address 91 

Weidemann, Dr. C. A., letter 118 

White, Lieutenant James, letter Ill 

Wight, Rev. George B., address 69 

Woolsey, Captain H. H., official report 143 

Wynkoop, Captain William, address 92 



